NEWS SCOOP: FRIENDS, COMMUNITY RALLY TO AID SA's FIRST FIFA WORLD CUP REF AFTER HOUSE BURNS, SAFA SILENT

Former Assistant Referee Achmat Salie is being assisted by friends and his community after his family home caught fire and ravaged their belongings this past April.

Salie was the first match official from South Africa to officiate at a FIFA World Cup as an assistant referee [1998] for a record five matches at the tournament, whilst also creating further history for the country by doing duty at the final between France and Brazil during that 1998 tournament.

However, last month When they were out for an Eid lunch - to celebrate the ending of the month of Ramadan on the 22nd of April, they were alerted by a neighbour that their house in Hazendal, Athlone was ablaze.

Upon arrival, the Fire Department discovered that everything inside the house was gutted and that the fire was not due to an electrical fault as a result of load shedding, as the extensive damage indicated the fire broke out before scheduled power outages.

"The news was spread nationally, it was well published in the newspapers but SAFA has never ever responded to me, neither the LFA or Safa in the Western Province," said Salie

"I never received any financial support or aid from SAFA, I was just put on retirement and no money was contributed to me. With that said, after I retired I was introduced into SAFA's Technical Committee for three years."

Achmat Salie also claims to have been promised by the SAFA boss Molefi Oliphant to become the Association's lead Match Commissioner and refereeing instructor, following his compulsory retirement as an assistant referee, however, that position was given to Herman Nkuna, despite the latter having more experience.

"The biggest disappointment in my refereeing career is really that I was deprived of becoming a SAFA Match Commissioner, Refereeing inspector and referees instructor, I never got that opportunity," said the 68-year-old.

"So after three years I actually retired and decided to retire fully and decided I am no longer interested and would rather spend my time with my family," he added.

The former referee covered various tournaments in the world including participation in the All Africa Games, Caf Champions League, Caf Confederations Cup, African Cup of Nations, World Youth Championships and even the Saudi Arabian Gulf tournament.

Since the unfortunate fire incident, former Technical Director of Referees in the Western Cape and other provinces as well as 2010 Liaison Officer Keith Verhoog, has been making attempts to assist Achmat Salie and his family to get back on their feet.*

Both veterans bemoaned SAFA's lack of direction and lack of attempts to look after the legends of local football and structures.

"It's actually very sad. Only a few have acted and paid visits or checked in (with Mr Salie). In that sense, I would say only the locals of Cape Town have shown concern but until today, not his LFA (Rygate), not SAFA Cape Town and not SAFA national had even the decency to WhatsApp the man who nearly lost everything,"
said an upset Keith Verhoog.

Mr Verhoog also bemoaned the lack of administrators appointed by SAFA nationally and provincially.

"I just hope SAFA, the local LFA's and provincial structures get a wake-up call to look after their administrators, referees, coaches etc, who all put the hard work in," added Verhoog.

Mr Salie remains grateful for the opportunities he was afforded as a referee and shared how he achieved his greatest dream despite all odds.

"My aim in life, at a young age, was to become a referee, at the young age of 15, 16, and to reach for the stars and reach my goal, to one day go to a World Cup and that's what I got," concluded a grateful Salie.