When two of the biggest soccer clubs in the country lock horns in view of 90 000 spectators, and a couple of millions globally glued to their screens, the man in the middle officiating that game has the ultimate tough job..

Tomorrow is the long awaited derby game between Orlando Pirates and log leaders Kaizer Chiefs at the sold out Soccer City in Johannesburg. Both sides have gone through thorough preparation for the game.  But it’s not just the teams that need preparation.  Matches of this nature have a high pace to them; hence referees need to be physically fit.

The whistle blowers are expected to make informed and accurate decisions in the game, and this is achieved by being in the right place at the right time.

There needs to be someone who will be able to keep up with the game, says Former FIFA referee, Sylvester Ndaba. He quotes a showbiz columnist of old, KC Montsitsi who once described the beautiful game as “a mad sport, which just needs 22 people to make it madder”.

He says that as part of preparation, referees should have done sprints to keep up with the high tempo and to have the endurance necessary to last the duration of a game. They should also have prepared mentally for the match ahead.

Games are divided into two categories, category A and category B  with Category A representing matches that have the most at stake. Matches like the derby, knock-out and relegation games where there is much to play for.

 “But I always tell referees that all games are of equal importance,”  says Ndaba.  

In the days leading-up to the game referees need to have gone through footage of both the team’s most recent games.

"This is to help prepare them on what to expect from both sides,” says Ndaba.

He says this will  also help the referee think about his own positioning on the field during the game and to  help him identify  threats to skillful players, who will be targets for the opposition.

According to Ndaba there are two popular systems which referees use.  One is the  diagonal and the other the  oval formation; which system the referee uses is dependent on the formation the teams will be using on the day. These systems ensure that the referee has the best view of the match and that positioning will not interrupt play.

 Although officials need to prepare themselves for the upcoming game, they are required to avoid coverage of anything that might skew their judgment on game day.

“The referee should also have not officiated in any of the two teams’ previous games, especially if the teams won or lost their previous games,” says Ndaba.

“Derbies require someone that can deal with player temperaments and who also has heaps of experience.

“We choose the best man at that moment, and all our referees are FIFA accredited” says Ndaba.

In instances where the most experienced referee is not on form, Ndaba says that they will go with the next best man. 

A former referee himself, El Professori ,advises that the night before the game, the referee should  pack his bag with three  pairs of socks, three pairs of boots,  a variety of stopwatches, cards and stationery which he may need during the game.