Adipo the football queen

By Charity Kalebbo Catherine Adipo is a no-nonsense football referee. She blows her whistle ruthlessly when a player has to be penalised. “She is a very able woman who has passed the test of officiating men’s matches,” says Aggrey Kibenge, Chairman of the Uganda Referees Association.Irate players and riotous fans have beaten up many referees for awarding penalties, cancelling goals and giving yellow cards. But none has touched Adipo.“I think the reason I have never been beaten is that I know what to do when I am on the pitch,” says Adipo. She adds, “A referee should be alert and mentally fit because on the pitch they make instant and objective decisions.”Her best match was that between the Cabinet and executives of the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA), at the Nelson Mandela Stadium, where President Museveni scored a penalty. “He (Museveni) is not a bad player. Given more practice he would be a better player,” she says.She also officiated in a friendly match between the national soccer teams of Uganda and Libya at the same stadium in 2000.On the pitch, she does not have even a minute to think about her sweetheart while a match is on. She explains that if you think about your wife or husband, you get distracted and fail to notice the little mistakes in the match.Her refereeing dates back to 1988 when Dick Nsubuga spotted her at Makerere College school where she was the football coach and games mistress. Nsubuga then advised her to undertake a course in refereeing.“The late Dick Nsubuga was the best referee Uganda has ever had. He inspired me to become a referee,” she says. Her best international referee is Pier-luigi Collina of Italy.Some of the students who were in Adipo’s team at Makerere College School are now stars in national teams.For instance Edgar Watson, a dependable player in Sports Club Villa, was part of her team. In 1989 Adipo underwent referee training, where she learnt the 17 laws of football. “The 18th law is common sense for all referees,” she says.Adipo, a well built lady does not like matooke because it has a lot of water and does not give her enough energy. She takes large quantities of fruits and water. “I need the water to replace the one I lose through sweat, and fruits to keep me healthy,” she says.Catherine runs more than five kilometres daily. At the end of it, she stretches and then takes a shower.She earns sh15, 000 per match officiated in a national stadium and sh10, 000 a minor stadium. “One cannot survive on football in Uganda. You have to find a job elsewhere,” she says. Catherine Adipo says she referees as a hobby because Ugandan football and refereeing is still at an amateur stage.Adipo strayed into refereeing by accident. Her dream was to become a lawyer like her brothers. She remembers her love for geography, history and economics. “I have more brothers than sisters and so they have been more influential in my life. I always wanted to do what they did,” says Adipo.“I always played football with my brothers when we were growing up,” she recalls. Adipo, daughter to the late Reverend Canon Kezironi Wejuli and Abisiagi Wejuli comes from a family of 16. She had 13 brothers and two sisters. However, only 11 of her brothers and the two girls are alive. She revealed that there are bright prospects for women in football because the Federation of Uganda Football association (FUFA) is encouraging women football.“Although women football is a new concept, the only way many other women can be encouraged to join football is by taking football to girls’ schools,” she says. She adds with a smile, “For a woman to survive on a football pitch, she must have a very strong character because fans will be hurling insults as the woman plays her game.”After Makerere University, she joined Makerere College School as a games mistress. “My school was very active in sports and annually participated in the Schools Independence Cup,” she says.She left college school in 1991 and joined Kampala City Council (KCC ). She worked with KCC between 1991 -1997. Presently, she is a poultry farmer and teacher in some schools around Natete. “I resigned from KCC in 1997 to take care of my son. But now that he is four years, I will soon go back to work,” she says. Adipo is a mother of two Sanyu 13, and Ian (four). When asked to comment about her husband, she said: “That is a personal matter.” Her home is beautiful. It is full of flowers and short green grass.For her leisure, Adipo hangs out with friends, has a drink and watches films but never forgets to watch matches. Adipo has been on the international list of referees for the last four years. “For one to be on the international list of referees he or she is recommended by FUFA on merit, to FIFA (Federation of International Football Associations),” says Kibenge. “Adipo was voted best referee in a women tournament in South Africa early last year. She is a good referee,” he adds. Despite the loss of her dream of becoming a lawyer, Adipo has curved a niche in athletics and is internationally recognised.FACT FILE:- P.1 to P.7 Busia Integrated School- Namagunga S.1-S.4.- King’s College Budo for A’level- Bachelor of Arts Degree, Makerere University in 1987- She went back to Makerere for a Post Graduate Diploma in Education.