Female Referee Sezarina Gabriel sending off a player for violent tackle. (Photo: Courtesy).

Sezarina was slapped by an angry footballer whom she sent off for misconduct during a second-division match in Wau town on November 13.

She was officiating the game between Tadamon and Al-haly when she red-carded Al-haly’s player Mario for the violent tackle.

According to the findings of an investigation, the player slapped the referee twice and his teammate Santino Marko kicked the ball against the referee in protest of the red card.

The state football-governing body condemned the incident and responded with punitive measures against the parties involved.

Addressing a youth conference in Wau on Thursday, Sezarina Gabriel said her parents have advised her to quit her job after the incident.

But she says she refused to give up the job because of her ambition to become an international referee one day.

“When my Father heard about this case, he told me to stop these practices. I respond to him not to tell me what to do. You will understand and keep encouraging me.”

“My mother also told me ‘I wish I was there to witness that beating because that is what you wanted.”

Sezarina called on South Sudanese women to cultivate the resilience to overcome setbacks.

“Some people told me to stop becoming a referee, but I told them this is the first step I put forward to become an international referee.”

“You see, if you don’t pass through such challenges you will never become a person. So, my sisters who are here or anywhere who like to join any activities even if somebody discourages you just ignore them and do your work.”