Chabe, rugby's dynamite with a big heart
Calistus Kolantsho | Saturday April 8, 2023 06:00
She was unfazed by the big frame of the players around her, frequently flashing a smile as she raised her hands to give signals.
Naledi Chabe was the woman in charge of the league encounter and has enjoyed more than a decade of officiating. Her first encounter as a touch rugby was at the school level in 2009. “I got a chance to be a touch judge in 7s and 10s games. In 2012, that is when I got introduced to contact games but I was still a referee at the 7s and 10s format at the school level.
In 2017, that is when I decided to focus more on refereeing,” she said. Chabe started playing rugby in 2006 and she received a national team call-up in 2008. She was part of the 7s national team which debuted in the World Cup qualifiers played in Uganda.
She played for the national team until 2014 when she had to drop out due to a knee injury. Chabe said it was not an easy process to officiate club games because at the time she was more into playing and her mentor did not have it easy, juggling between playing and officiating. She said for school games it was a smooth process and as a teacher, she got more involved in officiating games as a centre referee and that is the level where she did more management. She said her skills were natured during school competitions. Chabe said after she quit playing, she took up the whistle under the mentorship of Aleck Maphosa. “It is more interesting to be in the centre because no seat in the house is closer to action than refereeing.
I always look forward to being appointed to take charge of games between big teams because it is a way of proving to other women that it is not only men who can handle games.
We can also do it and do it even better,” she said. Her biggest challenge is dealing with different emotions from players, coaches and spectators, all at the same time. Chabe said each game comes with its own critique, so she has to be confident. She explained that she can officiate men’s games because she has a big heart. “There is a lot of pressure in men’s games, the thing is ‘they know it all.’ They will want to make calls for you, which at times intimidates, especially if one does not stand their ground.
You have to make your presence felt on the pitch. My confidence and character carry me through. Remember, I was a player, I interacted with most of them at that level before advancing to officiating. So the level of professionalism I have to bring should be top-notch. Having played the game to the level I went, is also helpful in understanding the tactics of the game and also in having empathy for the game,” Chabe said. She said naturally men are faster than women, and their endurance is high as compared to that of women, so it presents pressure to always have her fitness in check to try to match men and keep up with the game.
Chabe said the biggest thing she has learnt is to always keep her head up even after a bad day in the office, treat each game like it is a final and have respect for all for a smooth game. Chabe said her memorable moment so far was when she officiated her first men’s 15s game between BDF Cheetahs and BIUST in the President’s League. “The appointment came as a shock as I had never officiated before. I had support from Maphosa who prepared me for the game and gave me useful advice throughout the game. Ten minutes into the game I heard the whistle to stop the play and I was called to the sideline, for a moment I thought my officiating was bad. I thought Maphosa wanted to take me out of the game,” she recalls with a giggle.
She was instructed to change her jersey because it clashed with one of the teams. “I passed the test during that match and from there it was all systems go for me,” she said. To keep her fitness level in check, she mostly does speed, cardio and strength training. Her pre-match routine after the appointments are out is to start preparing based on the teams' previous play. “I look into how teams do, their play, set pieces and how they win the turnover. My dream is to grow over the ranks of officiating. My inspiration is Precious Pazani from Zimbabwe.
She is now doing international games. She is always available and always motivates me to work even harder,” she said. Chabe said she needs more game time and exposure in other countries. “Invitations arrive from other countries but finances stand in my way. At times, I dig deep from my pockets for my own exposure.
I request anyone out there to assist me with financial sponsorship for cross-border trips,” she said. Rugby Union board women’s representative, Gorata Kgathi said most people like to receive praise for their efforts, achievements and skills but Chabe has never been like that. “She has shown a great deal of passion towards rugby, having played for the national team on numerous occasions. I like the fact that after retirement she took officiating, which is basically a road less travelled in women's rugby,” Kgathi said.
FACT FILE
Full names: Naledi Chabe Date of birth: March 29, 1986 Place of birth: Lerala Profession: Rugby referee Hobbies: Travelling Shoe size: Anyone who wants to spoil me with pair, get me a size 5 Height: As for my height, let us just say dynamites come in tiny packages Favourite meal: I love good food