Zambia’s most successful referee, Janny Sikazwe, has announced his retirement from active refereeing at the age of 43.
Sikazwe, who was one of the African referees at the recently concluded FIFA World Cup, has stated that he has retired in order to provide room for younger referees to take over the reins from him because he is not getting any younger.
He made the announcement of his retirement on Friday morning at the Football House in Lusaka.
“I have not resigned but retired,” he said. “I decided to retire before the World Cup even started. I have refereed at all FIFA, CAF, and FAZ competitions, and it’s time for me to hang my boots and pave the way for the young referees.
“I am not under pressure; it’s all smiles, and I am happy to retire and now ready to groom the young ones to also break my records,” he concluded.
In 2017, he became the first Zambian to take charge of an Africa Cup of Nations final when he officiated Cameroon’s 2-1 win over Egypt.
He is also the only Zambian to officiate at the FIFA World Cup twice, in 2018 and 2022, and was once named the centre referee for a FIFA Club World Cup final between Real Madrid and Kashima Antlers in 2016.
Speaking to the media in Lusaka, Sikazwe stated that the last Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which was held in Cameroon, was the worst tournament of his career because he stirred controversy by blowing for full-time five minutes early in the match between Mali and Tunisia due to heat stroke.
He also revealed one of his best football moments was at the just-ended World Cup in Qatar when Real Madrid FC and Belgium national team goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois came up to him to express his joy at witnessing him officiate at the highest level once more after the AFCON controversy.
“After officiating that game between Belgium and Canada, the goalkeeper for Belgium (Courtois) came to me and said, ‘I am happy I have seen you again after what happened (at AFCON)’, I looked at him and said, my brother, I am here.
“I was touched,” he said.
To ensure that Zambia continues to produce referees who will go far and break the milestones he set, Janny said he will now work to mentor new officials in the country as he has now officially retired.
