Zambia’s Rising Star: 18-Year-Old Raphael Mbotela Set To Officiate Top-Tier League Matches
AfriNews 247 | Africa's Trusted Sports & Development Source
In a historic milestone for Zambian football, Raphael Mbotela, just 18 years old, is set to make his mark as the country’s youngest certified referee to officiate in official Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) league matches — including the prestigious Super League.
This comes after Mbotela successfully completed his referee certification in 2022, following a rapid rise through the ranks of youth officiating. His talent first drew regional attention in 2021 when he was selected to officiate at the COSAFA Under-17 AUSC Region 5 Games in Lesotho. At the tournament, Mbotela was entrusted with officiating the high-stakes semifinal clash between Botswana and Namibia in the girls’ category — an indication of the confidence regional football authorities had in his budding career.
Now officially qualified to oversee matches across FAZ competitions, including the ABSA-sponsored Super League, Mbotela is poised to set new standards for youthful excellence in African football officiating.
“Depending on how he performs, he can officiate even Super League and ABSA games,” confirmed FAZ Referees Manager Aziph Banda.
For Mbotela, this isn’t just a personal victory — it’s a doorway to future dreams.
“Being a qualified referee at my age is something I am truly proud of. It’s a great platform that I believe will help me go further in officiating, even at continental or international level,” said the soft-spoken but confident teenager.
His story has sparked widespread admiration across online communities and football forums, with many lauding both his discipline and Zambia’s effort in grooming young officials. Some users on forums like Nairaland have called his achievement a benchmark for African youth development — especially in contrast to ongoing concerns around age falsification in sports across the continent.
“That’s how an 18-year-old should look like. But Africans would present Under-17 teams that look much older,” one user remarked, praising Mbotela’s authenticity and transparency.
With over 3.2 million AfriNews members following the story and more than 8 million discussions ongoing, Raphael Mbotela’s journey is quickly becoming a case study in what African youth can achieve when given proper mentorship and opportunity.
As Zambia continues to invest in youth programs in both playing and officiating capacities, Mbotela’s career will be closely watched by aspiring referees and sports enthusiasts across the continent. His debut in a major league match will not only mark a new chapter in his life — it could very well signal a new dawn for Zambian football officiating.
By AfriNews 247 Sports Desk
