Involvement in football is like riding a bicycle for Manny

You have probably even been on the receiving end of a few stern words or have had a yellow or red card brandished in your face if you have been a little bit naughty.

A prominent presence in local football, Ferreirinho recently received acknowledgement from the Eastern Local Football Association (ELFA) and chairman Bruce King for 40 years of service and involvement with Easterns football.

Not only has the 67-year-old served the local football association with aplomb, but he has also had a deep and distinguished relationship with Benoni Northerns Sports Club where has been a member since the club’s founding days 44 years ago (serving a term as chairman between 2005 and 2010).

Ferreirinho was a key figure in the formation of the club’s soccer section, serving as the soccer chairman for almost three decades.

He has served as chairman of the ELFA in the past and has overseen local league fixtures as fixtures chairman for close on 30 years as well as being the referee coordinator.

“We used to arrange [and rearrange] the club fixtures by hand in the days when there were no computers. “It was always tricky,” he told the City Times.

He is still on the South African Football Association (SAFA) Ekurhuleni’s committee for competitions.

Ferrerinho has seen numerous changes in local football over the years and has many interesting tales to share including the unification of the ELFA in 1991.

He said that his time on the old Transvaal League’s disciplinary committee in the early 1990s was particularly interesting.

“I remember Ronnie Schloss (now a big shot in the PSL) was the first lawyer to come into a disciplinary meeting with lawyer’s books to represent an accused club and player.

“He came in there with six books and we sat on the disciplinary panel from 10am to 2am.

“That’s when they stopped lawyers from getting involved in disciplinary proceedings.”

Perhaps what Ferreirinho is most renowned for is his vast experience as a referee.

With 30 years of involvement as an official in both junior and senior football matches, he has full right to comment on the status quo of respect towards referees by players, coaches and spectators and the verbal (and sometimes physical) abuse that is often hurled towards the man with the whistle on and off the field.

“A lot of referees are their own downfall at times,” he said.

“Instead of taking action right from the beginning they allow negative things to continue on the pitch.

“Players are also under a lot of pressure with problems at work and at home and often take their frustrations out on the football field.”

He said that some of the abuse has seen a number of young referees call it quits in recent weeks.

In order to rectify the situation the ELFA has laid down stringent rules against offenders which include lengthy suspensions for players, coaches and spectators, financial fines for clubs and even the docking of league points.

Ferreirinho himself has experienced the worst of abuse.

“I refereed a veterans’ game one night in Edenvale and thought that I had had a good game.

“One player from Edenvale didn’t seem to think so.

“I remember walking to my car and the next thing I knew I was waking up at home full of blood.

“He had hit me with a bottle from behind.

“The matter went to court, but the case was chucked out because the witnesses did not pitch for proceedings.

“Three weeks after the incident I went back to Edenvale to ref a match.

“I am not a guy who bears grudges, you have got to carry on and go forward.

“There is no use trying to hide away from bad things.”

The wise old match official said that although the job might be thankless at times it can be rewarding, particularly when it comes to overseeing junior matches on Saturday mornings.

He added that he wouldn’t change a thing though with regards to his career and again stated how crucial it is for a referee to put his or her foot down from the start.

“You have got to be thick-skinned and be able to take more than you can give.

“Some players will carry on like lunatics, swear at you and then after the game give you praise for a good performance – it’s crazy.”

Despite the ugliness, Ferreirinho still believes that there is great potential for referees to go far in the sport in South Africa.

“Victor Gomes (now a top referee in the PSL) comes from the Easterns region while there are also two more of our guys running the line in the Vodacom League and on the verge of moving up to the PSL,” he said.

Besides spending most of his days and nights in committee rooms or on the field with the whistle, Ferreirinho enjoys taking his dog for a early walk every morning and being involved with his church, St Patrick’s Catholic Church.

With regards to his future in football he commented: “As long as my health is good and my legs can still carry me I would like to continue in the sport.”