Makalima has her sights set on the World Cup

Referee Akhona Makalima has set her sights on officiating in the men's World Cup after becoming the first South African woman to participate in the men's Fifa fitness test and passing it.

The 26-year-old will handle Premier Soccer League matches this season after also passing the South African Football Association (Safa) fitness test.

The Eastern Cape native is grateful to cricket legend Makhaya Ntini, who is one of the people training her in East London.

But Makalima is well aware that she cannot afford to rest on her laurels as football remains a male-dominated sport despite the strides made by women.

''The [critics] say all sorts of things, reminding you that this is not netball," she said.

"They will make sure they dispute every decision to try and confuse you. I always make sure I put my foot down. People need to change their mindset and believe in women as long as they know the laws of the game, are able to interpret and apply them. It takes courage to be a referee and you need to stand by the law and by your decision."

Makalima said she is always amused when soccer players do not know how to address her on the pitch.

"Players do not know whether to call me Mr Ref, Miss Ref, Sister Ref or Madam Ref."

The second-born of five girls and a boy was raised by her grandfather and played softball, volleyball and athletics in school. In 2001 she started playing women's soccer as a left back. She graduated with a human resources management diploma at King Hintsa FET College in Idutywa and retired as a player and took up refereeing.

This was after she was inspired by Yonela Mahamba, who was a top woman referee in the Eastern Cape.

"Bongani Mngese introduced me to refereeing and he was the referees development officer of Safa in Chris Hani District at the time," said Makalima.

"I [got into] refereeing in April 2011 and my first match was in August 2011. It was at the Chris Hani Memorial Tournament in Eziphinzana, East London. I won the best referee of the tournament award.

"I started officiating seriously during the 2011/12 SAB Regional League in Lukhanji. It was a dream come true for me. Later, I was promoted to officiate in the former Vodacom League."