Africa-Press – Kenya. Decorated Kenyan referee Peter Waweru has confessed he usually experiences trepidations anytime he is assigned the Mashemeji derby encounter between arch-rivals Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards.
Waweru’s top-notch performance with the whistle throughout the preceding season earned him the 2020/2021 Kenyan Premier League referee of the year award.
But despite his impressive credentials and enviable status as a Fifa referee, Waweru concedes he always experiences goosebumps anytime he is called upon to officiate the Mashemeji derby.
“The most difficult match to handle is the Mashemeji derby because it involves the two teams that have always been regarded as the best in the country, and both boasting of a huge fanbase,” said Waweru.
“It’s always a big honour to be appointed to officiate in such a high level encounter,” he added.
Last season, Kenyan referees struggled to fend off numerous accusations of bias officiating as disgruntled local tacticians faulted some of their calls during league and cup matches.
However, Waweru was in a class of his own and outclassed his colleagues to strut to the winners’ podium for the coveted award during a colourful awards ceremony held at a Nairobi hotel in August.
Football is not his only business though. Waweru possesses a doctoral degree in Pure Mathematics and lectures at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, where he has earned an enviable reputation for helping students solve algebra problems.
He has published five academic papers and his main research area is Abstract Algebra.
His larger-than-life personality notwithstanding, Waweru continues to delve deeper into an activity he is so passionate about and which he plunged into during his formative years.
Waweru said he honed his officiating skills right from the grassroots and gradually accumulated sufficient experience that ultimately propelled him to his current status.
“As a small boy who grew up in a remote Kenyan village I always thank God for bringing me this far,” he said.
Anytime he takes to the pitch to officiate a match, Waweru says he’s inspired by a principle found in Fifa’s laws of the game where players and officials are urged to do everything to promote fair play.
This is among the catchy slogans that the world football governing body have coined over the years as a moral, ethical and sporting yardstick by which they are measured.”
“It encourages everyone involved to always put football’s interests, and never their own, above everything else because this is the only way football can prosper and grow.”
Waweru’s impressive credentials have previously secured him coveted roles at the Africa Cup of Nations as well as the CAF Champions League.
He rose to prominence when he was tasked with presiding over the Africa Nations Championships quarterfinal where Mali locked horns with DR Congo.
He has also previously officiated in the CAF Champions League and the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations, in Niger as well.
