The FIFA/MA Referees Course, at the Jamaica Football Federation’s (JFF) Technical Training Centre got underway on Monday October 14th and is scheduled to run until Friday October 18th.
The FIFA/MA Referees Course, at the Jamaica Football Federation’s (JFF) Technical Training Centre got underway on Monday October 14th and is scheduled to run until Friday October 18th.
The course has 28 participants, including six females and is designed to help the individuals sharpen up in different areas of the skills.
The chief instructor is former FIFA referee Peter Prendegast and he is being assisted by Rohan Thobourne, Mark Sullivan, Alan Brown and Victor Stewart.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, JFF General Secretary Raymond Grant, encouraged the participants to give of their best, while expecting that they will learn a lot more to go along with their current knowledge base. He spoke of how Jamaican referees had excelled and that Ricardo Morgan, a fellow referee, was at an U-17 football tournament currently taking place.
“I am particularly pleased with the number of female referees participating in this course. Jamaica has the highest number of female referees in the Caribbean and the third highest in CONCACAF and we are happy about that,” Grant said.
Captain Horace Burrell, President of the JFF, who was the main speaker said that it had been a while since he had addressed referees and had rescheduled the times of other meetings just to be able to be in attendance.
“Referees are a very special group. You are very important to the development of football. There is no area in football that is close to refereeing as far as importance is concerned. You are a critical component of the beautiful game,” he said.
“You have a tremendous responsibility at all times – the highest level of professionalism is required at all times. At any game, you are the most important FIFA official at all times, remember this and you will do well,” the JJF boss encouraged.
Burrell also praised Prendegast for the work he was doing throughout CONCACAF, saying he was highly respected by his peers especially the referees boss. Fernando himself, spoke very highly of the Jamaican.
Burrell also went on to laud the referees for the tremendous job they have been doing so far.
“Work hard, be professional ,be fair and never be intimidated – never let anything affect your balance and be consistently firm so people will know you are a no-nonsense referee.”
In closing, Captain Burrell thanked the instructors for the role they are playing in developing the nation’s referees.
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