AIFF Media Team

NEW DELHI: The FIFA-MA Course organized by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) for India’s Elite Referees kicked off in the Capital on Tuesday (August 13, 2013).

The Course aims to train top Indian referees and update them with the latest methodology for value enhancement.

Twenty five men and six women Referees are attending the Course. Five MA Instructors will also be part of the Programme. The participants will undergo the five-day event through classroom and ground exercises.

Apart from the aforementioned contingent, there will be two FIFA Course Instructors – Mr. Farkhad Abdullaev, FIFA Refereeing Technical Instructor and Mr. Ganeshan Maniam, FIFA Refereeing Fitness Instructor, FIFA Refereeing Development Officer (FIFA-RDO) Mr. Muhiseen Ariff and AIFF Head of Referees Col Goutam Kar to oversee the proceedings.

Among the five Indian MA Instructors, Walter Pereira, S. Suresh, P. Bhasker, Rizwan-Ul- Haq are the Technical Instructors while Binod Kumar Singh is the Fitness Instructor.

“Referees development is very important for the game. We had a similar Course last year in Madurai,” AIFF General Secretary Mr. Kushal Das said.

“Such Courses only improve the standard the refereeing in the country and I hope all the I-League referees attending the Course as well as the MA Instructors will pick up a lot from this Course,” he added.

It was July 11, 2012 when a FIFA/MA Course for India’s Elite Referees took place in Madurai.

Speaking on the sidelines of the inaugural day, Kar said: “This is the sixth year of FIFA-MA Course being run by AIFF under the auspices of FIFA.”

“This has enhanced the quality of officiating and has developed the personality of our top level referees. The Course also has enhanced the quality of our top level Instructors while working hand in hand with the top level FIFA Instructors,” he added.

Mr. Ariff, who was in India for venue inspection for the FIFA FUTURO-III Refereeing Instructors’ Course for South Asia and Central Region starting September 11, 2013, stressed on the importance of Fitness Training during the five-day affair.

“Mr Ganeshan Maniam is one of the finest Fitness Instructors I have seen. It is a boon for you all to have him here. Fitness is the most important aspect of modern refereeing. The Fitness Test tomorrow (Wednesday, August 14, 2013) will be very important and I am sure you all will be benefit vastly from this session,” he addressed the participants.

Speaking to the www.the-aiff.com later, Ariff highlighted the importance of the Course.

“The FIFA-MA Course for Referees is part of the Refereeing Assistance Programme (RAP) started by FIFA six years back,” he informed.

Back in December 15 2007, the FIFA Executive Committee passed the RAP. The basic objective of the RAP is to professionalise the environment in which referees develop and work - at both national and international level.

“Indian referees have a lot of potential. Here we have five MA Instructors and our purpose is to pass on the knowledge to them through theory and practical session. They will in turn spread the word to referees in their respective associations,” Ariff added.

“All top referees who officiate in the I-League are here along with female referees. I am sure the coming five days will be very fruitful,” he concluded.

The Course ends on August 17, 2013.