Zambian top referee Jan Sikazwe has put down the whistle after a stellar career of about a decade and half.
In an interview with the Zambia Daily Mail the Kapiri Mposhi man said FAZ was lining up something for him to continue helping in the development of match officiating in the country.
“FAZ is working on something, we will give you all the details,” Sikazwe said.
In a separate interview FAZ referees manager Aziph Banda told the Zambia Daily Mail that Sikazwe had indicated that the just ended FIFA World Cup in Qatar was his last.
“He [Sikazwe] had stated that this just ended World Cup in Qatar will be his last assignment. He is retiring but he will still play a role in the development of refereeing in Zambia since he has vast knowledge,” Banda said.
“For now I can’t say much, we are waiting for him to come and make a formal announcement at a press briefing within the coming few days and that is when will be able to give more details.”
Meanwhile Seven Zambian centre referees have made the FIFA international panel for the 2023 calendar while 10 have been pencilled for the assistant’s role.
The 42-year-old took charge of one match at the World Cup, Belgium’s 1-0 Group F win over Canada on 23rd November.
Sikazwe is one of the continent’s finest referees with a career of 14 years experience.
He has taken charge of a CAF Champions League final, and African Cup of Nations final. The 42 year old has handled matches from the Zambian lower tiers to the FIFA World Cup.
Aged just 28 years old Sikazwe, a trained teacher became a FIFA referee.
From 2010, he continued to referee in both CAF Confederations Cup and Champions League. CAF also assigned him to take charge of African and World Cup qualifiers.
On the local scene, he has handled the ABSA Cup and as well Zambian Super League matches
Below is a timeline for the former St Paul’s High School (Kabwe) by the ZamFoot Crew
Timeline
2008 – He got his big break in 2008 at COSAFA Under-20 Challenge Cup in South Africa when he was called to replace another referee who had failed a fitness test
2010 – Handled his first CAF Confederations Cup match between Costa do Sol and Santos
2011 – Was in charge of one match at the CAF Under-20 African Youth Championship.
– Handled 2 matches in the CAF Confederations Cup
2012 – Refereed a group stage match at the 2012 AFCON
– Was in the middle of the pitch in World Cup, CAF Champions and Olympic qualifer
2014 – Was left out of the World Cup panel
2015 – refereed the 1st of the CAF Champions League between Orlando Pirates and Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia.
2016 – refereed at the 2016 FIFA Club World Cup Final in Japan between Real Madrid and Kashima Antlers
2017 – The Kapiri Mposhi born became the first Zambian to take charge of the Africa Cup of Nations final. Sikazwe refereed Cameroon’s 2-1 over Egypt.
“I am praying for the World Cup and I am sure I can make it,” Sikazwe said in 2017
2018 – June – First ever Zambian referee to take charge of a game at a World Cup, controlling the whistle in two World Cup 2018 group games – Belgium vs Panama and Japan vs Poland.
– November – CAF provisionally suspended Sikazwe following allegations of corruption during a CAF Champions League game between Esperance and Primiero Agosto
2019 – January – the suspension was lifted in January 2019 after a disciplinary hearing cleared him.
– October -Received President’s Insignia of Meritorious Achievement at the investiture ceremony at State House from former Zambian President H.E Edgar Lungu
2020 – Refereed at the FIFA Arab Cup in Qatar
– took charge of the ABSA Cup final between Zesco United and Lusaka Dynamos
2021 – Sikazwe twice blew for full time too early in a Group F CAF 2021 African Cup of Nations between Mali and Tunisia, and had to be escorted by security.
2022 – Sikazwe took charge of one match at the World Cup, Belgium’s 1-0 Group F win over Canada
