FIFA, TTFA host Referee Assistance Programme for match officials

DAVID SCARLETT

THE global governing body for the world’s biggest sport is continuing to execute its vision for football development across the planet.

Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has set out a plan for the growth and development of the sport in a four-year cycle spanning from 2023 to 2027. A major part of this cycle is to improve the area of refereeing in each country.

For many years, FIFA’s avenue for referee development has been the Referee Assistance Programme (RAP), which is a part of the FIFA Member Association (MA) course. This programme offers some of the best referees in each country the opportunity to improve both their knowledge and application of the laws of the game.

TT, in partnership with FIFA, has been a beneficiary of this programme for over a decade. This year, 20 match officials and 12 instructors under the TT Football Association (TTFA) Refereeing Department were enrolled in the course.

The 2023 MA course is scheduled for the period of July 21 to 25.

Classroom sessions will be held at the Marabella South Secondary School and field sessions will be held at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella.

Local match officials participating in the 2023 RAP include 2022 FIFA World Cup assistant referee Caleb Wales, FIFA assistant referee Ainsley Rochard, FIFA referees Crystal Sobers and Cecile Hinds, and other top TTFA officials such as Nikolai Nyron, Timothy Derry, Shash Ramsaroop and Nathalya Williams.

The course’s opening ceremony was held at the Marabella South Secondary School on Thursday, hosted by the TTFA Refereeing Department.

Present were the head of the TTFA Refereeing Department Michael Ragoonath, general secretary of the TTFA Amiel Mohammed and FIFA instructors Erick Samayoa, Javier Santos and Peter Prendergast.

At the ceremony, Ragoonath said referees are an integral part of FIFA’s vision for football development.

Ragoonath, a former FIFA World Cup assistant referee (2002), continued, “FIFA has sought, in their best interest, to invest in referees. (Here), we have past FIFA officials, present FIFA officials and we are hoping to have future FIFA officials from the group. Grab (the opportunity) with both hands, hold on tight, run as fast as you can and make the most of it.”

During the MA course, referees, assistant referees and instructors will have several sessions to evaluate fitness, improve their technical ability on the field of play, and review videos focusing on fouls, penalty area incidents, handball and offside.

From this point, the TTFA will be seeking to continue their own referee development in line with its vision to have local referees representing TT in regional and global tournaments in the future.

2023 FIFA MEMBER ASSOCIATION COURSE

REFEREES

Crystal Sobers, Cecile Hinds, Nikolai Nyron, Timothy Derry, Andrew Samuel, CJ O’Brien, Nathalya Williams, Akil Weekes.

ASSISTANT REFEREES

Caleb Wales, Ainsley Rochard, Carissa Jacob, Kirt Charles, Keron Myers, Shash Ramsaroop, Johann Cornielle, Melissa Nicholas, Odile Brewster, Kyle Crichlow, Ayodele Cudjoe, Adam Singh.

INSTRUCTORS

Michael Ragoonath (HORD), Neal Brizan (MAI), Lynda Bramble-Thompson (MAI), Mentor Baptiste (MAI), Nigel Bailey (MAI), Shane Da Silva Charles (NI), Oswald Myers (NI), Cindy Mohammed (NI), Merere Gonzales (NI), Jason O’Connor (NI), Allison Boney Mcdonald (NI), Kevin Lewis.

HORD – Head of Refereeing Department

MAI – Member Association Instructor

NI – National Instructor