Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Kuala Lumpur: Reigning AFC Women’s Referee of the Year Sachiko Yamagishi and Women’s Assistant Referee of the Year Allyson Clare Flynn believe this year will prove to be an exciting and challenging year for the women’s officials.
Both women took part in an AFC Women’s Referees and Assistant Referees Course in the Malaysian capital that concluded on Tuesday as part of the activities under the AFC Refereeing Seminar 2014.
The seminar aims to update and prepare the continent’s refereeing proponents -- from the assistant referees and referees to the referee fitness instructors and referees technical instructors -- for duty this year.
Their five-day course was closed by Consultant to the AFC Referees Committee General Farouk Bouzo.
“During the course, there was emphasis given by the instructors on the need to have consistency and 100-percent correct decisions on the field of play,” Yamagishi told The-AFC.com.
“This is achievable but requires a lot of hard work from us to keep learning and improving in all aspects of refereeing be it our grasp of the laws of the game, physical fitness and so on.
“Plus, this year will be a busy year for women’s football with major tournaments such as the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2014 and FIFA U-17 and U-20 Women’s World Cups.
“This is good for Asian women’s football generally and women’s referees particularly. As we all know, Japan have become the first Asian team to win the FIFA Women’s World Cup, showing that the Asian women’s game is rising. And Asian women’s referees have to keep up with the pace.”
Flynn has echoed Yamagishi’s sentiments, saying: “It’s great to be attending this course to update us on what is required of us in this year’s excitement.
“With these major tournaments coming up, it’s expected that the emphasis, among other things, was on having perfectly correct referee decisions.
“Our performance has to keep improving to stay in tune with the fast pace of Asian and world football, so it’s great to be prepared through this course so that we are ready for duty and to make a great performance this year if we get the call-up.”
In his closing remarks, General Bouzo expressed his appreciation for the women’s dedication to improving themselves as referees and assistant referees.
“I’d like to thank all of you for your dedication during the course. You’ve worked hard and showed good discipline over the five days of the programme and I’m sure you’ll be ready for assignment to officiate matches in this year.
“The women’s game is definitely rising and I’m really happy to note that you’ve all taken the preparations for this year seriously. I’d like to wish you all the best.”