Raphael Mbotela shot to fame in 2021 after he officiated a friendly match between Zambian top-flight clubs Zesco United and Forest Rangers at the age of 16.
His refereeing prowess attracted the attention of the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) and the Council of Southern African Football Association (COSAFA), who provided him a platform to officiate at the 2021 COSAFA Region 5 youth games when he had just turned 17.
Mbotela went on to officiate the under-17 women’s semifinal game at the competition between Botswana and Namibia in Maseru, Lesotho, making him the youngest referee in football history to officiate two national teams at any level.
The young referee, who is now 18 years old, passed his grade 9 exams in 2022, and he is in the 11th grade this year.
He tells BolaNews that he is focused on completing high school and looking forward to joining the FIFA panel when he reaches the required age of 25.
“I am now in grade 11 and I did a short FAZ refereeing course where I also passed the tests. I am looking forward to being on the FIFA panel when I complete high school and also reach 25,” he said.
“I appreciate the support, and if there is anyone out there who also wants to help me in my refereeing career, I will gladly appreciate it.”
The number of referees in Zambia has increased over the past ten years, and thirty trainee referees from the country’s ten provinces participated in the FIFA Young Talent Referees course spearheaded by FAZ in Lusaka last year.
Mbotela and many other young referees in Zambia aspire to break the milestones set by retired whistler Janny Sikazwe, the only official from Zambia to have officiated at every men’s FIFA and CAF competition.
