Around 30 participants from around the country that included 22 referees and eight assessors were present at the National Football Academy.
OFC Referee Development Officer, Mark Hester conducted the week-long course which has set the platform for the 2014/2015 season.
“The FIFA MA course is an initiative by FIFA under the Referee Assistance Programme to assist Member Associations with the development of referees, and in particular their top referees,” Hester said.
“The objective of the course is to ensure that referees have the most up-to-date knowledge on the current teachings of the laws of the game. The interpretation of the laws to ensure they are updated on the changes and to also share experiences so that they can learn from each other as well as from their instructors.
“The participants got the latest teachings, some of the same instructions that the world cup referees and assistant referees received.”
Hester spoke highly of the local referees who he believes have the ability to step up a notch.
“Fiji referees are very good the level of football here is good and the level of refereeing is very good. As with anything there is always room for improvement and the referees here are willing to learn and looking for more knowledge and experience,” he said.
New Fiji FA referees director Rajendra Sharma said the week long course was a timely one.
“This MA course is very timely as we have just finished our season,” he said.
“We have a lot of expectations from our referees, the course itself will refresh them and it will be beneficial for them in the sense that they have been given all the latest information.”
Referee assessor Mohammed Kazim who was part of the course said the knowledge gained will go down a long way.
“The course has been a very helpful one in terms of assessing our referees and how they perform on the field and in terms of instructing our referees, we have learned a lot from our FIFA instructor, he has given us all the new techniques. I would like to thank Fiji FA, OFC and FIFA for hosting this course,” he said.
For more on Fiji football visit www.fijifootball.com.fj

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