Foto: Said Husby

Interview with referee Mekdalawit Damtew

Mekdalawit Damtew, or "Mimmi", combines student life with being a referee in Stockholm. We at Spintso wanted to get to know cool Mimmi a little more and sniff a little what she thinks about the future, job and the role as a referee.

– Hey Mekdalawit, or Mimmi. Which do you prefer the most?

– Difficult question, because I prefer both names. Both belongs to me in some way, even though Mimmi is a nickname.

– Where does the name Mekdalawit come from?

– I was born and raised in Ethiopia. I moved to Sweden when I was 14 years old and this is where the whole football journey also began. I moved to Sundsvall and that was where the football journey and refereeing began for real, for me.

– You mentioned that "that was where the whole football journey began". Tell me more!

– In Ethiopia we never got the opportunity to play, sadly, but that was it. The boys had a team at school, but the girls did not. We were very few girls who were interested in football. We also played, although very rarely. It was considered "boyish" to play football. When I came to Sundsvall for the first time, the first month was boring and tough. It was school and being at home, more or less. However, I met a football coach nearby where I lived and we spoke English, because I did not know Swedish then. He invited me to training.

I did not play matches with them, but only trained at first, because we could barely afford to pay the membership fee. At that time I had a brother and sister who lived in Ethiopia and all the money went to support them and us. Then came a day, and I think I had been training with them for maybe two months. Then came a minibus, full of girls with foreign backgrounds, some of them had veils and some were from my home country as well. They stormed the pitch and got in there and filled the pitch with laughter and screams - it felt at home somehow. Then also came a man named Lennart Lummi, he started Sundsvall's DFF Plus. Plus is his project, which help girls with a foreign background, where they get clothes and shoes for free and play for free - to get us into the system. It all started there, but I continued to play / train with two teams. The Plus team has had over 500 girls who played there, so a compliment to Lennart Lummi who did a lot for all these girls. I got to be a leader and attend the training for free here as well, as well as the referee course. He introduced us to it.

– So this is where it started with the refereeing as well, in other words?

– Yes exactly. We got the opportunity to attend the leadership training and the coaching training in collaboration with SISU and it was fun and we continued with it while we played. I also joined the Sundsvall DFF women's team, but did not get much playing time there and there was higher competition. Here I did not receive any financial support or anything. Then Lennart came and had a referee with him, who asked us who might be interested in starting to refereeing. Then I signed up and another girl, Birile, so we started refereeing at the same time.

– Were you interested in refereeing earlier? Before the question came?

– It was an opportunity. I have always taken advantage of opportunities. But I've always talked about Gothia Cup, along with Birile. God, how cool it would have been to be at Gothia as a player or referee. We also realized somewhere that it will probably never be relevant for us to be players there. And in 2019 we went there as referees! Then, a couple of years ago, I could not ask my parents for financial support and then the refereeing contributed a lot so that I could stand on my feet in a better way. At that level, I could no longer play and be a referee, together with a lot of study, so then both me and Birile chose to invest more in the being a referee.

– Studies you said. What are you studying?

– I am studying for a Master of Science in Biotechnology and am in my third year, out of five years. It was not plan A from the beginning. Plan A was to study to become a doctor, but I did not get in there. It was very close, but tough to get into such a line in Sweden. Instead, I entered the Master of Science in Engineering program and began studying immediately after high school.

– If you can really dream – What will happen after your studies?

– I dream of having something of my own. Some own company that works with its own medicines and / or protein development. I would like such a company! Then I also want to invest a lot in being a referee. I know a couple of referees who are civil engineers and they say that it is very good to combine refereeing with work. I think I will invest a lot in that, but you always need to have something to lean on.

– Is it possible to combine studies and being a referee now?

– Yes, it has never been better! Sometimes it can be a little travel on weekends. It was last year that I started traveling further, and having matches further away. But as long as you keep to the routines and other things, it works well. It is also a way to get away from the studies and the bubble you live in sometimes. It's really nice!

– At what level are you refereeing today?

– I'm certified as a regional referee and I have gone to step 2 training in 2019. We have not had quite the same system as the men, when they go to step 4 it is actually step 3 for us ladies. But it can easily be said that we who have gone step 2 skip step 3 and go into the ladies' referee stage 4 according to the new stair system. So I really hope that I will soon get a chance at step 4. Last year I refereed as Head Referee in division 1 ladies and assistant referee in the next highest league for ladies in Sweden.

– Do you referee mostly women's football or men's football?

– I think a little bit more women's football, at least last year. However, I like to have the mixture of it, you learn differently and have to think differently depending on the match. I like what we call risk matches in men's football, because then you really get to develop your real refereeing qualities and you get tested more.

– What is your goal in Refereeing then? The short-term goal may be step 4. What do you think even further ahead?

– I have a couple of great role models, including Salima Mukansanga who became the first female referee in the African Championship. It's a dream and a goal I have. Then also Tess Olofsson, here in Sweden who refereed in the Superettan, next highest league for men. My dream then? In 5 years or so, I would like to have a Champions League match and a men's match at a much higher level, difficult to put into words exactly at any but higher level. And to be a Referee in the African Championship - it's a dream I'm aiming for.

– That we will look forward to. To have a Swedish referee in the African Championship, that has to be the first time?

– Right! I'll start that trend :)

– How much do you referee a regular season, how many matches do you have per week?

– I prioritize refereeing above all else. Sometimes it can even be a little too much, but I'm passionate about it! I probably have three matches a week, on average. But I have started to think more about the quality of myself and that you should be strong. So the goal is to reduce that average to two games a week.

– We know that you both dance, train and do the gym a lot. Is it something special, for the Refereeing Career you work with and train extra on?

– Everyone probably has something they need to train a little extra on. On the running test I have no problems with the long runs and the interval test, but on the other hand with the sprint I have more to work with to be able to pass the men's running test and then be able to referee the men. It has taken me almost four years to find the right way to train. My physio coach has helped me a lot here.

– Now it's time for start of the season in Sweden, at least pre-season 2022. What do you look forward to the most with matches and the season?

– That  great feeling of just getting on the pitch. To be able to referee again! It's been a while during the winter, you watch a lot of football on TV and get that craving back for matches. So I think I long most for that wonderful feeling of going out on the pitch again! I have also signed up for Gothia, it will be really fun.

– Thanks Mekdalawit. We wish you good luck with your studies and your referee career, we will follow you. Keep being cool!

– Thanks so much!


Foto: Said Husby