Yahya breaks through stereotypes
An intention to break stereotypes about rugby, the people and players around it will truly reveal the interest and passion for the sport among the local Indian community, and possibly produce more rugby players of colour as a result.
With this in mind avid sportsman and rugby fanatic Yahya Omar has become the Province’s first Indian Rugby referee when last weekend he officiated as linesmen during school games.
Spectators glanced twice at him and some inquired if he was Greek or Portuguese. Many were surprised when he calmly replied “Indian”.
Yahya has enrolled into a rugby referee course under the Pumas Rugby Referees Society which is affiliated to the South African Rugby Union (SARU), but making that choice to be recruited was no easy task. He saw the advert one year ago and ever since it’s been working on his mind.
“To be honest, I was scared. I’ve always loved rugby but when you think of what you might come up against, well, then you think twice”.
But his passion was stronger than his doubts. And although he hesitated for almost a year he picked up the phone and made the call.
“My fears were immediately put at ease. It was a nerve-wrecking moment but I thought if I didn’t take the chance I would never be involved in the sport I love the most. At the end of the day, it’s stereotypes that gives us doubts in the first place”.
Yahya said he was impressed with the all round professional conduct of coaches and trainers, discipline within the entire system and irrelevance of race and language.
“I thought Afrikaans would be a barrier, but the Puma Rugby Referee’s Society went out of their way to accommodate me. I was immediately welcomed and given every possible resource to ensure success.
When I look back now I wonder why it took me so long to enrol in the course,” said Yahya, who is also a Junior Accountant by day at Arbee & Osman.
The Puma Rugby Referee’s Recruitment campaign aims to train as much referee’s as possible across all race groups in Mpumalanga. The only requirement is that applicants should have some sort of rugby knowledge due to the technical nature of the sport.
As a proud Bok Supporter who roots for the Lions on Super Rugby weekends, Yahya aims to reach IRB Level refereeing and officiate international tests one day.
“My dream now is to be the referee in a Rugby World Cup Final, but that’ll probably never happen – because South Africa will always be in the final,” quipped Yahya.
• Yahya is also enrolled in an International Cricket Council (ICC) course in Dubai, UAE, aimed at training ICC coaches for development cricket amongst young School kids – also known as Mini Cricket. Yahya flies to Dubai at least once a month to attend compulsory training sessions required to complete the course.
• There are still dozens of open spaces in the Puma Rugby Referee’s recruitment campaign.
For more information and to find out how one can purse a career as a rugby referee visit www.pumasrugby.co.za or contact Referee manager Dries Breytenbach at email dries@pumas.co.za or 072 220 1837.
