Lesotho’s Phatšoane to officiate in third Afcon in a row
Prominent Lesotho Football Association Assistant Referee Souru Phatšoane has been listed among match officials appointed by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to officiate at the upcoming 2023 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations in Cote D’voire.
The continental Football showpiece scheduled for January 13 to February 11, will be the third in a row for the Lesotho assistant referee, who made his debut at the 2019 edition of the tournament in Egypt.
Phatšoane has already inked his name among iconic figures in the history of football in Lesotho having officiated the final of the 2021 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations between Senegal and Egypt, where he was paired alongside regional compatriots with now Victor Gomes and Zakhele Siwela.
The Tṧenola born assistant referee impressive CV as international referee includes officiating the final of CAF major competitions such as the Confederation Cup, Champions League, the Super Cup, and the Africa Cup of Nations.
His rising stock earned him a place at the Beijing Olympic Games, which was the first time the Lesotho Football Association had a referee at the multi-sport games and was followed by the call-up for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where he was the first Lesotho referee to officiate at the global football showpiece.
LeFA Secretary General Mokhosi Mohapi stated that the Association is very proud of Phatṧoane appointment to officiate in major continental and global competitions in recent years including the continental showpiece scheduled for Ivory Coast in the new year.
“From the word go in 2007 when Souru started match officiating in Lesotho, I remember one fan approaching me impressed with his officiating and told me that he has no doubt that he will go make great things,” Mohapi said.
“Myself too, at one stage I told him verbatim before he was even in the FIFA panel, that if he keeps his head low and focuses on what he is doing, i don’t see anything that can stop him achieving what he has achieved.
“Then, it was the three of them, Lebalang Mokete, Lesupi Puputla and I’m very happy that all three of them are in the FIFA. They used to do First Division matches then and I have seen them grow in refereeing to eventually make the FIFA panel.
“They have been there for a very long period in which they have done in excess of hundred matches, but it was very clear that one of the trios would eventually make it to the big stage and I’m not surprised. We are happy for him.”