Maseru, Oct. 13 — The Lesotho Football Association (LeFA) star Assistant Referee Mr. Souru Phats’oane is among the continent’s best match officials currently undergoing the Referees Preparation Course for the Total Energies CAF Africa Cup of Nations preliminary official list in Ivory Coast.
LeFA Media Officer, Mr. Mikia Kalati said the six-day course which started on October 11 this year, forms part of the preparations for the upcoming 2023 continental showpiece scheduled for Cote D’voire.
He said Phats’oane is among a list of 32 Assistant Referees, 32 Referees, 4 Video Assistant Referee (VAR) Officials as well as six highly experienced Technical & Physical Instructors to ensure that all Officials are in the best shape ahead of the competition.
Mr. Kalati said part of the workshop will include, but not be limited to physical, theoretical and technical tests while also ensuring that all Officials are fully up to speed with the laws of the game, VAR and other key refereeing matters.
The Lesotho star referee made his AFCON debut at the 2019 edition of the tournament in Egypt, which was followed by a history making tournament in Cameroon, where he inked his name in the history books of the beautiful game in the continent officiating the final of AFCON 2021 alongside South African duo of now retired Victor Gomes and Zakele Siwela, where they became first match officials from Southern Africa to achieve that feat.
