Local hockey umpire Siyabonga Martins has recently been promoted to the International Hockey Federation (FIH) International Panel of Umpires for indoor hockey, marking a significant milestone in his officiating career.
Martins’ journey into officiating began in 2016 after his national coaches at the time, Mark Nel and Johann Weyhe, advised players that understanding the rules of the game would help them become better hockey players.
Following their advice, Martins studied the rulebook and began officiating lower league matches to better understand the application of the rules. Martins was appointed to the International Panel of Umpires for outdoor hockey last year, marking this his second promotion and enabling him to umpire for both outdoor and indoor matches.
According to Martins, the promotion to the international panel brings him a step closer to achieving his long-term career ambitions.
“I am very excited about the promotion. This means more international exposure and that my career plan to be at a World Cup or Olympic Games is on track,” Martins said.
Some of the defining moments in his career include being named on the international umpiring panel for both indoor and outdoor hockey.
He also recalls officiating at the 2017 Men’s Hockey Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana, where he handled the semi-final between Ghana and Nigeria before a large crowd.
Another memorable moment came during the 2024 Men’s Indoor Hockey Africa Cup of Nations final held on home soil, where Namibia was crowned Africa’s indoor hockey champions.
Martins believes hockey development programmes in Namibia are contributing positively to the sport’s growth. “The outdoor hockey programme is developing well, with initiatives such as the School of Excellence Standard Bank Development Programme and the K5 indoor hockey programme making strides on a national scale,” he said. He added that the Namibia Hockey Union is working hard to strengthen officiating structures through various programmes aimed at developing umpires at the club level.
Martins also praised fellow Namibian umpires Fenni Pinaar and Irene Handura, who have been performing well at continental tournaments and could become the first Namibian female umpires to reach the same international level.
“All routes to becoming successful require discipline, sacrifice, determination, hard work and a strong mindset to achieve your goals,” he said.
Looking ahead, Martins hopes to continue performing well at the tournaments he is appointed to officiate, which could open doors to global events.
“I just missed out on World Cup and Olympic appointments, but I look forward to next year’s All Africa Games and future appointments to the World Cup and Olympics,” he said.
-hnalupe@nepc.com.na