SOUTH African referee Jerome Damon and assistant referee Enock Molefe are anxious to make their appearance at the 2010 Fifa World Cup.
Damon and Molefe are the only two South Africans that Fifa chose to serve in the World Cup.
Damon and his team will handle the game between New Zealand and Slovakia at Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Phokeng tomorrow. The South Africans will be joined by Rwandan Celestin Ntagungira, who has been working with them for almost two years.
The trio, who are rated highly by the Confederation of African Football, worked together during the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Angola in January and February.
The reigning Asian referee of the year, Ravshan Iirmatov, who was in charge during the opening match between Bafana Bafana and Mexico on Friday, will be the fourth official.
The ever-smiling Damon, a teacher in Cape Town, said: "It's such a great honour to officiate in such a massive tournament in my own country. I have refereed many big tournaments elsewhere but this one is the biggest because it is in my country.
"We have been training hard and are ready for the tournament."
The Bloemfontein-based Molefe, who is also a teacher, said: "We are ready for the tournament, this is going to be a great World Cup. As Africans, we will always be under pressure, but we are ready to contribute to the success of the World Cup."
Damon, Molefe ready
SOUTH African referee Jerome Damon and assistant referee Enock Molefe are anxious to make their appearance at the 2010 Fifa World Cup.
Damon and Molefe are the only two South Africans that Fifa chose to serve in the World Cup.
Damon and his team will handle the game between New Zealand and Slovakia at Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Phokeng tomorrow. The South Africans will be joined by Rwandan Celestin Ntagungira, who has been working with them for almost two years.
The trio, who are rated highly by the Confederation of African Football, worked together during the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Angola in January and February.
The reigning Asian referee of the year, Ravshan Iirmatov, who was in charge during the opening match between Bafana Bafana and Mexico on Friday, will be the fourth official.
The ever-smiling Damon, a teacher in Cape Town, said: "It's such a great honour to officiate in such a massive tournament in my own country. I have refereed many big tournaments elsewhere but this one is the biggest because it is in my country.
"We have been training hard and are ready for the tournament."
The Bloemfontein-based Molefe, who is also a teacher, said: "We are ready for the tournament, this is going to be a great World Cup. As Africans, we will always be under pressure, but we are ready to contribute to the success of the World Cup."