South’s referee jets off to Brazil for FIFA World Cup
Johannesburg South resident out-performed 53 trios consisting of referees and was selected as part of the top five to be part of CAF.
WINCHESTER HILLS – After two years of intense scrutiny under the watchful eye of FIFA’s judges, Winchester Hills resident Daniel Bennet made the cut as a representative in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a referee.
“I was chosen as one of the five trios to represent CAF in the FIFA World Cup in Brazil,” revealed Daniel Bennet before he jetted off to the Canary Islands on an all expenses paid trip by FIFA for a seminar. He will be coming back to South Africa late February after the seminar wraps up.
Daniel Bennet is a resident of Winchester Hills and has been a P.E. teacher and Sports Convener for grade 1, 2 3 and grade 7 learners at Mondeor Primary School for 14 years.
Two years after every World Cup, a new list of referees who are eligible within the age limit of 45 years were selected from all over the world. In seven spots out of seven referees Daniel Bennet was chosen as one of the trios to represent CAF in Brazil.
Bennet out-performed 53 trios consisting of referees, referee assistants and lines men when his trio was shortlisted in the top 30. It was also selected as part of the top five to be part of CAF.
“It’s been two years now since we’ve been doing fitness tests, watching video clips which were part of the homework that we received every month. It’s on an internet platform and you get an email with a video link of a tackle or an offside incident and you have to comment if the player is guilty of a red card or a yellow card offense.”
Since the FIFA project started in 2012 they had been going to seminars paid for by the football association in countries including Zurich, Morrocco and Brazil with all the referees on the shortlist, as they had to attend FIFA tournaments.
In October and November 2012 Bennet took part in the UAE (United Arab Emirates) u/17 and u/20 showpiece and the 2012 Confederation Cup in Brazil, where they had to prove themselves to FIFA that they deserved to be on the shortlist.
They showcased their skill, experience and know-how at tournaments and fitness tests where they had to get their commenting correct, had to be physically fit and pass fitness tests. They also had to be spot on the ruling or punishment for the players on video tests.
“They (FIFA judges) were judging us and giving us marks for every single thing that we did.”
Mondeor Primary School is proud of Bennet’s achievements and wishing him all the best.
