English · Kenya
Behind the whistle: how match officials are trained in Kenya
From fitness testing to video analysis, the men and women who police the country's biggest matches are products of an increasingly professional system.
Inside the system
Before they stand in front of fifty thousand fans, the country's top referees spend years in a training system that is more demanding than most fans imagine.
The pathway includes twice-yearly fitness tests, monthly video analysis sessions and a mentoring programme that pairs young officials with veterans of continental competitions.
Officials insist the focus on preparation is paying off, pointing to a drop in contentious decisions in the top flight and growing respect for the profession.
- Fitness tests set international standards
- Video review sessions are mandatory for top-flight officials
- A new academy aims to double the number of elite female referees
You cannot control the noise. You control your preparation.
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Written by
Wanjiru Kamau
Chief football writer covering the Kenyan game and the stories shaping it.
View all articles by Wanjiru
