Trefina Shivolo has every reason to be in the seventh heaven.
At just 24 years of age, Shivolo has made history as Namibia’s first ever 1-Star Referee and Judge after successfully completing an IBA course in Tanzania’s capitali city, Dar es Salaam in August, 2024.
For her tremendous achievement, the Africa Boxing Confederation (AFBC) invited the secondary school graduate teacher to officiate in the Africa Elite Men and Women Boxing Championships in Kinshasa, DR Congo in October, 2024.
Shivolo was one of the 39 R&Js welcomed in IBA’s family following the course in Dar es Salaam conducted by Chairperson of IBA R&J Commission Sadie Duffy from Ireland and AFBC R&J Committee Chairman Godavarisingh Rajcoomar.
So how does the charming Shivolo feel becoming Namibia’s first ever 1-Star R&J?
“It’s an incredible honor, and I feel proud and excited about this achievement,’ says Shivolo.
“It showcases not only my dedication to the sport but also highlights the potential and talent within Namibia.”
Shivolo elaborates on what she learnt and what the Dar es Salaam course entailed.
“The course provided me with valuable insights into the rules, safety protocols, and the responsibilities that come with officiating boxing matches.
“I learnt about the intricacies of the rules that govern boxing, including how to properly score a fight, which may differ from basic knowledge including safety protocals.
“Understanding the importance of fighter safety, how to recognize when a fighter is in distress, and the proper procedures to follow in those situations was a very important stage in the course.
“There’s also conflict resolution. That’s developing skills to manage and de-escalate conflicts that can arise between fighters, trainers, and other officials during a match.
“The other very important knowledge I gained is mental preparedness. This includes the psychological aspect of being a referee, including dealing with the pressure of making split-second decisions in high-stakes environments.”
How did she prepare for the DRC assignment?
“Preparing to officiate in a tournament of that magnitude involved a combination of physical conditioning, regularly revising the rules and regulations of boxing, as well as any specific guidelines for the tournament, and mental preparation.”
She points out the importance of a referee’s physical fitness taking into account the movement involved in the ring during a bout.
“Cardio training is crucial for a referee. I did a lot of roadwork for my DRC job, including morning runs everyday, it helped build endurance. This is essential for staying alert and mobile during matches.”
Shivolo, a staunch boxing fan, says her association with R&J job is accidental, and had no no intention of venturing into this line but an abrupt inclusion to officiate in a local tournament in 2016 kicked off the marriage.
“My association with boxing has been quite significant. I haven’t been a boxer myself. It all started off as a fan with a deep passion for boxing which deepened my understanding of the sport.
“For my first judging, I was picked from the crowd by a man named Cheetah Shimwafeni. I was only 16 years then. I had never met him before, so he requested me to help with judging since they had a shortage of officials at the tournament. He quickly showed me how it’s done and with my passion in boxing I was in it. At the age of 17, I became a referee and won a trophy for the Best R&J during the National Championships. In 2022 I was certified as a national R&J by the Namibia Boxing Federation, and in the same year I officiated in the AUSC Region 5 Games in Lilongwe, Malawi.”
Boxing is a high octane sport with sporadic exchanges of punches, at times blood oozing from a boxer’s nose or from a cut. I ask Shivolo whether she feels scared in the ring or develops feelings of sympathy for a boxer on the receiving end..
“As to whether I get scared when watching boxers fight and I’m in the ring officiating, it can be a mix of emotions. While referees are trained to remain calm and focused, the intensity of a match and the physicality of the sport can be nerve-wracking. My primary concern is the safety of the fighters, so I’m always alert and ready to step in if a fighter is taking too much punishment or is no longer able to protect themselves.
“Boxing teaches discipline, resilience, and the importance of strategy, values that I carry into my roles in officiating and promoting the sport.”
Some referees have at times been hit by mistake, and Shivolo too has tasted leather officiating a local tournament but she was lucky to not to be very close to the boxers.
With a chuckle, she recalls the day she was hit on her chest by a “stray bullet” .
“Yes, once I was punched on my chest. Though it wasn’t intense. The crowd was noisy, I stopped the fight twice to give an eight count to a boxer who received a hard blow. That’s how I ended up being a victim of a punch too, luckily I wasn’t close.”
Curious, I ask Shivolo which part of her chest the blow landed?
“I was hit on the upper part of my chest, I was so lucky it didn’t land on the softer part of my chest,” she says with a hearty laughter.
