The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
MUTARE Sports Club player turned referee, Gideon Myambo, bagged two awards out of the five categories he was a nominee at the Zimbabwe Rugby Referees Society awards held at Old Hararians Sports Club in Harare last week on Saturday.
He is the 2022 most improved referee and traveller of the year, the latter being recognition of a match official who recorded the highest mileage through the whole season.
Myambo, who has made steady progress in officiating the game he played, hung up his boots in 2019.
The former Hillcrest College student was a nominee for referee of the year, upcoming male referee and the coveted Coleen de Jong trophy categories.
To cement his growing profile as a rugby referee, Myambo was second runner- up for Harare Province referee of year award held three weeks ago.
In an interview with Post Sport, Myambo could not hide his excitement.
“For me it was great to be nominated for five categories and managed to win two. This is something that gives me the impetus to push on and achieve more. In any case, it is always good to have people around you noticing and appreciating your efforts in everything that you do,” he said.
On his ambitions in the field of rugby match officiating, Myambo said: “All I want is to be the best I can be and one day officiate in top matches on the continent and around the world.”
Even during the days he played the game of rugby, Myambo had a passion for match officiating.
“I have always loved refereeing even though I was still playing. I then decided to take it full time as a new challenge after my playing days were over. I am enjoying it and hope to achieve more,” said Myambo.
The 2022 edition of the Zimbabwe Rugby Referees Society awards also saw another Mutare match official, Lisa Mutetwa being nominated for the upcoming female referee of the year category.
Categories that were up for grabs include President’s Cup referee of the year, rookie of the year, most improved referee, upcoming referee of the year (male and female), CMO of the year, most disciplined referee, traveller of the year, educator of the year and the Coleen de Jong Cup.
The Colleen de Jong Cup is meant for the official who best displays ethos of the game and the society.
