Arunava about Football A look at football & the world through my eyes!
Related Articles
The two-year AFC Referee Academy Intermediate programme kicked off with its first of eight modules at the AFC House on Wednesday, November 14.
35 referees from the 2017 Batch are among the 86 percent of participants that completed the Introductory Module last September and will be divided into two groups as they begin the five-day Module. Their participation also marks a significant milestone, with a record of 35 different Member Associations engaging in the AFC Referee Academy.
The first day saw the referees partake in a practical session in the morning at the AFC Pitch, before being welcomed by the AFC General Secretary Dato’ Windsor John, who in his opening speech said, “When the AFC President officially inaugurated this building at the end of October, the AFC President spoke of his pride at the success of the Referee Academy.”
“It is the first-of-its-kind at a Confederation level and demonstrated the AFC’s determination to support our match officials to continue their excellence on the global stage.”
“Not only did Asia have a record number of teams at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia but also just as importantly, we had a record number of match officials. And the vision for this Referee Academy is to ensure that we continue the development of talented officials from Asia.”
A special plaque presentation was then held, where the AFC General Secretary acknowledged and thanked former AFC Referees Director Yoshimi Ogawa for his invaluable contribution to the AFC and the Referee Academy.
“My thanks go to the AFC staff, our AFC consultants and one of the architects of this academy – our former AFC Referees Director Yoshimi Ogawa,” added Dato’ Windsor John.
“And it is fitting that now we make a presentation to mark his enormous contribution, not only to the Academy, but also to refereeing in Asia in general.”
“After stepping down as AFC Referees Director in 2016, he stayed on as a consultant to see his dream become a reality. He and our current AFC Referees Director Shamsul Maidin have been towers in strength throughout this process.”
Over the next few days, the aspiring elite referees will go through various practical, theoretical and classroom sessions on the subject of technicality and fitness, and will also be introduced to the latest amendments to the Laws of the Game.
The second module of the Intermediate level will begin on February 2019.
