The South African Football Association (Safa) has congratulated the South African referees who have been appointed to the elite list of referees and assistant referees to officiate at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

FIFA's Referees Committee on Friday announced 30 referees from 28 countries who will officiate at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, among them top South African whistleman Jerome Damon.

Damon will, with Enoch Molefe and Rwanda's Celestin Ntagungira, be among the referee trios for the tournament chosen for the final 30 out of an initial 54 trios for the tournament.

"Jerome and Enoch have consistently been among our country's best and most consistent officials who have proven themselves time and again at local, continental and international level," said Safa CEO Leslie Sedibe.

Damon and Molefe were subjected to a six year training phase, being initiated prior to the FIFA 2006 World Cup in Germany and culminated in Friday's announcement.

"Their selection to the elite World Cup panel is the crowning moment in what has been wonderful careers. For a referee making the final cut for the World Cup tournament is equivalent to a national team player making his country's 23-man final World Cup squad.

"We're overjoyed for Jerome and Enoch. We wish them, and all the African officials chosen, all the best during the tournament," added Referees Committee Chairman Alpha Mchunu.

Safa President Kirsten Nematandani also congratulated the two referees, saying that the Safa National Executive Committee (NEC) acknowledges the good work done by the Referees Department in the training and development of top class match officials.

"We are delighted with this magnificent achievement, it is indeed an indication that we are on the right path in our quest to develop young referees that can emulate the achievements of Jerome and Enoch. We wish them all of the very best," commented Nematandani.