GFA Host FIFA MA Referees Course 2019
Channel: Spice Isle Sports Review
Date: 2019-07-26

ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, July 25, 2019 – The Grenada Football Association (GFA) has gotten good reviews from FIFA officials following the completion of a one week FIFA Member Association (MA) Referees Course at the Grenada Football Association (GFA) Secretariat.

The MA Course which is part of the FIFA Development Programme, brought together participants from Grenada and Dominica.

“This course for us has been successful” says FIFA Techincal Instructor Victor Stewart. “We were very impressed by the enthusiasm and support from the member association as well as the participants.”

Stewart believes that courses like these will give the region an opportunity to help improve officiating and also football.

“Because of our location and numbers we have less opportunities to showcase out ability, so the opportunity to participate in courses like these are very important for us because it brings to the caribbean the information that is shared at the global level in bigger member associations.”

During the 5 days, a fitness test was conducted under the supervision of FIFA Instructors Javier Santos, Rohan Thobourne and Victor Stewart.

Six (6) of the participants were successful in passing. They are Junior Cyrus, Kerry Marrast, Renon Radix, Devon Roberts, Gilbert Barry and McManaman Bedeau.

Ryan Lantan, representative from Dominica shared his thoughts on the course.

“It was an informative course with a-lot of material to take help improve our knowledge as referees. Dominica is hosting the Secondary Schools Games and this will be a good opportunity for us as referees to put what we learned into practice at the football games being contested.”

One of the referees who passed the fitness test and also the youngest in the group McManaman Bedeau was quite happy with the course and looks forward to imparting the knowledge gained to fellow referees and the public.

“Being in the few that passed the fitness test, i feel honored and proud of myself because it was very challenging; it wasn’t easy. The game has changed and there are alot of amendments and we need to get the public aware of those changes so when they see us make certain calls or decisions there would not be any outcry.”

In addressing participants at the closing ceremony, FIFA Regional Development Referees Officer Javier Santos commended the FA and in particular First Vice President Allan James for his commitment and hands-on support throughout the course.

Twenty One referees participated in the course.

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