An exciting and challenging three-day FIH World Hockey Boost Level One Umpires course was held in Malawi commercial capital Blantyre under the guidance of South Africa-based trainer Dennis Perkins last weekend. The course, which ended on Sunday at Country Club Limbe, has pooled together 18 participants, 13 from the host southeast African nation Malawi and the rest from the neighboring Zambia.
Other five participants from Zimbabwe, which also shares the western border with Malawi, were expected to turn up for the course. Speaking when he opened the course, Perkins urged the participants to be dedicated and committed during the course.
‘You need to be fully committed to what you are doing, your participation and commitment are vital,’ he said in front of the participants and Hockey Association of Malawi (HAM) officials. ‘I’m very honored to be here, to be selected to be the umpiring course’s conductor. I intend to spend the next three days earning that honor.’
Zambia umpires’ team leader Alex Musonda said he hoped the course would equip them with new umpiring skills. Speaking when they officially opened the course, HAM president Tochi Gill and Malawi National Council of Sports’ vice-chairman Dean Pinto each separately said the session was vital for the development of the sport in the country. ‘Hockey is a very fast, skilful game and umpires must also be skilful and fast to match the pace of the game,’ Gill said.
