Woman inspires others with her spoils as top ref

Referee Akhona Makhalima’s phenomenal success in the elite league is having a snowball effect on other women wishing to dismantle the male dominance of this section of the beautiful game.

While the role of women in football continues to be a topic of discussion, refereeing is often a topic that isn’t even considered, but progress continues to take its course even without this vigorous debate actually taking place.

Makhalima is not only the first certified woman referee in South Africa, but she is the phenomenal athlete who broke every single barrier placed in front of her through determination, sheer will and a force so that she could be a pioneer in her field and her success is unstoppable.

Makhalima shared her success at Momentum’s Womentum Tribe virtual photoshoot discussion, where her experience about officiating for Fifa and the local Premier Soccer League (PSL) took centre stage.

She spoke about how she is using her position as a trailblazer in women’s sports to encourage and inspire other young South African women to dream big and kick their own doors wide open by participating in sports at all levels.

Having been raised in the poor community of Nqamakwe in the Eastern Cape meant that despite her athleticism and speed, Makhalima had little or no access to any sports programmes.

She didn’t let that stop her though, and says her journey to becoming a referee was an uphill battle, especially as a woman. “Most work in male-dominated fields requires women to work twice as hard, because we start on the back foot. You know you are being denied opportunities because you are a woman,” she said.

She said some still harbouring archaic ideas of women in sports have not always appreciated Makhalima’s presence in the beautiful game. “Even if you are the best, [selectors] will pass you up because they believe women don’t have what it takes or that there are other emotions at play when choosing a woman.

“It is assumed that men know the game better, and as a woman, you constantly have to prove yourself no matter how good you are. When you and a man score the same in assessments, you have to do everything to prove you are better because they will pick the man if you don’t.”

She says she deals with the gender-based biases and discrimination by constantly working on improving herself. “You need to work on yourself to prove yourself – to yourself as well – that you are capable. You need to stop doubting and owning your ability.”

The sports industry is fraught with gender issues and many women have been told over time that they are not good enough. “I worked hard to be here, and I didn’t want to get here by being just a quota or to fill up numbers – I want equality because I am equal in strength, ability, and desire.

“You have to invest in yourself to say that you are able to take up that kind of space.”
And it’s not just about being the best at what you do, Makhalima quickly added, “It’s about banging on doors, demanding a seat at the table, and raising your voice at the table because that will open that very same door for the next woman.”

She cautions though that women have to be realistic and not aim for being in the top spot right away and that you have to work your way up to where you want to be.

“We are human before we are anything else. We have to show our humanity and fight for change by asserting our humanness so that we, as women, are not just seen as whatever role they assign us.”