The South African Football Association (Safa) National Referees? Committee has appointed 17 referees to officiate the Nedbank Cup Final and the Vodacom League national playoffs.

The Nedbank Cup Final match between Moroka Swallows and Pretoria University will be handled by referee Charl Theron, with Moses Phale and Edward Madidilane as his assistants, Jerome Damon as the fourth official and Steve Goddard the match Commissioner.

For the 11th edition of the Vodacom National Playoffs, scheduled for East London from the 25-31 May 2009, Safa has appointed thirteen members of the elite panel of referees and assistant referees to officiate at the week-long tournament.

Chairman of Referees Committee Kirsten Nematandani says the decision stems from the extremely high esteem in which the competition is being held by Safa.

"The match officials will be led by two senior A-grade match commissioners of the Safa elite panel of match commissioners; and will be accompanied by a referees sports scientist," said Nematandani.

He added: "The senior match officials will include all the members of the Safa/FIFA referees and assistant referees? panel, except those who are on international duty and will be led by FIFA 2010 World Cup nominee Jerome Damon.

"In order to foster the development of young referees, three members of the Safa national referees committee's youth development group (YDG) that have been officiating in the Vodacom promotional league, and have subsequently been identified as possible candidates for promotion to the national panel of referees have been included to gain experience and to learn from their more auspicious counterparts."

The three developmental candidates, who include two female assistant referees, officiated at the recently held Safa Under-21 Championships where they proved their mettle under extremely intense conditions.