Akhona Makalima is set to etch her name in history, by becoming the first woman to officiate at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Makalima was listed amongst referees for the tournament, and she has earned her place at the 2023 AFCON due to her impressive showing since she began refereeing.
Akhona Makalima is an international referee, who hails from South Africa and has been a listed international referee for FIFA since 2014.
The 35-year-old handles matches for FIFA, the Premier Soccer League, and the South African top-flight Women's League, and she is also a referee under the South African Football Association.
Makalima was born on March 27, 1988, and she has been lauded for her impressive handling of games.
The South African woman has been listed as an international referee for FIFA since 2014.
In January 2023, the governing football body, FIFA, selected her to be amongst the officiating team that would be in charge of games at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup held in New Zealand and Australia.
Akhona Zennith Makalima looks to be getting to the “zenith” of her passion, as she is recognized by FIFA and in line to take charge of the biggest footballing showpiece in Africa.
Makalima holds a national diploma in human resource management from King Hintsa FET College.
Akhona Makalima was raised in a poor community in the Eastern Cape, and she became known in her village at a young age for her speed.
The 35-year-old was encouraged to be involved with athletics and also to play football and other sports.
Due to a lack of sports programs and leagues, Makalima had to pick up refereeing, and by the age of 23, Akhona was traveling across South Africa officiating matches.
Eventually, she became a FIFA-accredited and badged referee, the only female referee to pass the association’s fitness test and referee in South Africa’s top-tier football league.
Akhona Makalima went on to officiate at the 2018 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations in Ghana, and she has high hopes that she will at some point in her refereeing career officiate at the FIFA World Cup.
Meanwhile, South Africa will be participating in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and they are placed in Group E, alongside Mali, Namibia, and Tunisia.
What a thrilling feeling it will be for South Africans to see Akhona Makalima in officiating action at the tournament, and possibly, South Africa winning the tournament for the 2nd time in their history.
It looks like it is impossible, but as the saying goes “Impossible Is Nothing” and South Africans will be anticipating the best in Cote d'Ivoire.
Meanwhile, Makalima is making use of her status to encourage and influence young women from South Africa to participate in sports across all grades.
The glass ceiling has been broken in recent years and we are definitely seeing more and more women refereeing top matches.
In 2020, French referee Stephanie Frappart became the first woman to officiate a UEFA Champions League match.
Recently, English referee Rebecca Welch, also became the first woman to officiate an English Premier League encounter, handling the game involving Burnley and Fulham on Saturday, December 23, 2023.
Makalima was listed amongst referees for the tournament, and she has earned her place at the 2023 AFCON due to her impressive showing since she began refereeing.
Akhona Makalima is an international referee, who hails from South Africa and has been a listed international referee for FIFA since 2014.
The 35-year-old handles matches for FIFA, the Premier Soccer League, and the South African top-flight Women's League, and she is also a referee under the South African Football Association.
Makalima was born on March 27, 1988, and she has been lauded for her impressive handling of games.
The South African woman has been listed as an international referee for FIFA since 2014.
In January 2023, the governing football body, FIFA, selected her to be amongst the officiating team that would be in charge of games at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup held in New Zealand and Australia.
Akhona Zennith Makalima looks to be getting to the “zenith” of her passion, as she is recognized by FIFA and in line to take charge of the biggest footballing showpiece in Africa.
Makalima holds a national diploma in human resource management from King Hintsa FET College.
Akhona Makalima was raised in a poor community in the Eastern Cape, and she became known in her village at a young age for her speed.
The 35-year-old was encouraged to be involved with athletics and also to play football and other sports.
Due to a lack of sports programs and leagues, Makalima had to pick up refereeing, and by the age of 23, Akhona was traveling across South Africa officiating matches.
Eventually, she became a FIFA-accredited and badged referee, the only female referee to pass the association’s fitness test and referee in South Africa’s top-tier football league.
Akhona Makalima went on to officiate at the 2018 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations in Ghana, and she has high hopes that she will at some point in her refereeing career officiate at the FIFA World Cup.
Meanwhile, South Africa will be participating in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and they are placed in Group E, alongside Mali, Namibia, and Tunisia.
What a thrilling feeling it will be for South Africans to see Akhona Makalima in officiating action at the tournament, and possibly, South Africa winning the tournament for the 2nd time in their history.
It looks like it is impossible, but as the saying goes “Impossible Is Nothing” and South Africans will be anticipating the best in Cote d'Ivoire.
Meanwhile, Makalima is making use of her status to encourage and influence young women from South Africa to participate in sports across all grades.
The glass ceiling has been broken in recent years and we are definitely seeing more and more women refereeing top matches.
In 2020, French referee Stephanie Frappart became the first woman to officiate a UEFA Champions League match.
Recently, English referee Rebecca Welch, also became the first woman to officiate an English Premier League encounter, handling the game involving Burnley and Fulham on Saturday, December 23, 2023.