Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Toshiyuki Nagi enjoyed an early birthday present after receiving the 2013 AFC Assistant Referee of the Year award.
Nagi, who turns 42 on Friday, was part of the trio of Japanese referees – which included 2013 AFC Referee of the Year nominee Yuichi Nishimura – that officiated at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil.
Nagi also ran the line in a trio of other major tournaments this year namely the 2015 AFC Asian Cup and 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and the AFC Champions League and was given the nod for the 2013 AFC Assistant Referee of the Year award ahead of Iran’s Hassan Kamranifar and countryman Toru Sagara, who received the accolade at the 2010 AFC Annual Award ceremony.
“I was very emotional as well as proud when I received the award in front of the top football delegates and officials here in Kuala Lumpur,” Nagi remarked after receiving the 2013 AFC Assistant Referee of the Year award from Sayyid Khalid Hamed Al Busaidi, AFC Executive Committee Member and Deputy Chairman of the AFC referees Committee.
“This award is the recognition of your hard work and it inspires you to continue working hard and achieve excellence in your work which you love to do.
“Personally for me, it’s a big moment which I will keep on with throughout my life.”