There were shocks all round on Friday morning when the CTTLFA Referee appointments were announced and veteran referee Jerome Damon was appointed.
Damon, whose decorated career includes Afcon, World Cup and other global tournaments, will take charge of this weekend’s big fixture as Edgemead host Durbanville.
The last time Damon took the whistle in an official match was 2013. The game featured Benni McCarthy against Golden Arrows where Orlando Pirates clinched the league title on the last day of the season. He was visited, after the game in the dressing room, by Dr Irvan Khoza and Mato Madlala who thanked him for his services to football.
Speaking ahead of the local game on Saturday, the FIFA-acclaimed referee gave very little away to the CTTLFA website when asked for a quote.
“What you worried about a quote for,” Damon is quoted as saying. “Let’s hope I remember where to stick my whistle! This could be a catastrophe!”
Damon’s appointment is an exciting one. His inclusion as a member of the Cape Town Tygerberg Referees will surely inspire young aspiring officials to get more involved but having him back on the field means he’s serious about being involved, giving back and getting more involved with the local game.