By Boris Esono
Football Writer,kick442.com-Cameroon
For any young referee in the beautiful game of football, the goal is to one day reach the highest level of refereeing – being awarded a FIFA badge.
While many will aspire and work for that, just a select few ever get to call themselves FIFA/CAF referees or assistant referees. One of them is Nkemazem Vincent, a young referee who started back in 2014 and has achieved that feat.
The Buea-based Assistant Referee Vincent Gimdoh Kemazem has been in the headlines of multiple Sports reporting outlets after he was made one of Cameroon’s assistant referees approved to officiate international matches for the 2025 calendar year. The list of FIFA International List of Match officials includes 11 referees, 11 assistant referees, 2 Futsal referees and 2 VAR officials from Cameroon.
Vincent’s rise through the ranks is evidence of his hard work, dedication, discipline and passion for the beautiful game. What started as a dream for the then-aspiring referee has now turned into an impressive career marked by hard work and a commitment to excellence.
In 2014, Vincent started refereeing in 2014 in the South West region. Four years later, he participated in the finals of the 2018 SW Mini Interpools in the game Victoria United versus Catholic University and was the best Assistant referee in the SW this same year.
As Nkemazeng gained experience, his talent and composure on the field did not go unnoticed. He was promoted to Elite Two in 2018 and then promoted to Elite 1 in 2020. “I participated for three playoffs notably Garoua 2022, Douala 2023, and Douala again in 2024; same with National Interpools,” he said.
Vincent was amongst the match officials in the highest populated (32000 spectators) match between Bamboutos and Coton in Douala during the playoffs, and has also taken part in the Super Cup Finals back in 2023 (Coton versus Fovu), while also being one of the officiating team for the Cameroon Cup finals on September 29, 2024.
“I was part of the officiating team for the opening game of the 2024/25 Elite 1 championship in Melong between Stade Renard against Aigle Royal of Moungo. I have attended four FIFA MA stagé in Yaounde and also have played in many top games,” Vincent said.
In January this year, Nkemazem’s career reached a new milestone when he was awarded the prestigious FIFA badge. This honour marked him as one of the few assistant referees from Cameroon, who qualified to officiate in international matches under the banner of FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The achievement was not only a personal triumph but also a source of pride for him. Nkemazem is now part of an elite group entrusted with representing his country on the global stage, a responsibility he is expected to embrace with humility and determination as he has been doing since he began his career.
Beyond his achievements on the field, Nkemazem is a sports and physical Education professional. He has Bachelor’s Degree and a Master’s Degree in Educational Psychology from the University of Buea. If he is not on the pitch for matches, Vincent enjoys coordinating physical training sessions with referees in the South West, which has earned him the nickname, physical lab technician.
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