Double joy for referee Damon

South African referee Jerome Damon has double cause for celebration after being included in a 2010 World Cup panel and chosen to control the African Champions League final.

The 36-year-old Cape Town teacher was among five Africans retained on a list cut from 54 to 38 referees from which an undisclosed number will be selected for the World Cup in South Africa.

Mohamed Benouza of Algeria, Coffi Codja of Benin, Koman Coulibaly of Mali and Eddy Maillet of the Seychelles are the other African match officials vying for places at the quadrennial tournament.

Damon has officiated at three consecutive editions of the biennial African Nations Cup in Tunisia, Egypt and Ghana since 2004 and was on standby for the World Cup in Germany two years ago.

He and South African assistant referees Toko Malebo and Andrew Rezeers have been named to handle the first leg of the Champions League showpiece between Al Ahly of Egypt and Coton Sport Garoua of Cameroon in Cairo next Sunday.

Algerian referee Djamel Haimoudi and assistants Ahmed Sedrati and Bouabdellah Omari will be in charge of the return match in Garoua two weeks later.

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