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Well-known referee Mr Philip Tinyani. Photo: Frank Mavhungu.

PSL's best referee, Philip Tinyani, retires

 

A well-known local professional football referee, Mr Philip Tinyani, has retired from blowing the whistle.

The 48-year-old resident of Dzimauli village in the Mutale area started his refereeing career way back in 1999. At that stage, he was officiating SAFA Vhembe Regional League matches. His performance at regional level had impressed the referees’ selectors, prompting them to promote him to officiate at professional level in the 2003/4 soccer season.

He said that his debut appearance in the professional ranks was when he officiated in the league match between Platinum Stars and Amazulu FC. During his illustrious career he officiated in, among others, the Soweto derby between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates on five occasions. He also handled the whistle during the Free State and KwaZulu Natal derbies during his 19 years as a professional referee.

Mr Tinyani said that his most memorable games were the Nedbank Cup final between Mamelodi Sundowns and Ajax Cape Town and the Telkom Cup final between Bloemfontein Celtic and Mamelodi Sundowns.

Although he only tendered his resignation last week, Tinyani has blown the whistle for the last time in the relegation/promotion game between Chippa United and Richards Bay United.

Following his superb performance in the field of play, Tinyani was named the PSL’s referee of the season in the 2014/15 soccer season. Mr Tinyani is the current referees’ coordinator in the South African Police Services. He joined the SAPS way back in 2009.

Asked what he was planning to do after retiring, Mr Tinyani stated that he was still undecided. He said that quitting refereeing does not mean that he would be out of the football fraternity. The police sergeant revealed that he will either work as a match commissioner, referees’ instructor or physical trainer.

Tinyani appealed to youths who wish to pursue a career in football refereeing to be self-disciplined in order to avoid situations where they fall into the temptation of taking bribes.

 

 

Date:12 March 2022

By: Frank Mavhungu

Frank is a Human Resources Manager at the Department of Public Works in Limpopo. He is the longest serving correspondent of the Mirror, having joined us at the end of 1990.  He mainly writes sports reports and resides at Tsianda Village. In 2004, Frank won the National Castle League Award, an award for the best reporter in the SAB league in South Africa.

Read: 2090

 

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