Local refs need to be in better shape, said a facilitator for a refereeing programme, after noting a low level of fitness among the course participants.
A special facilitator for the five-day MA Refereeing Course 2023 Subkhiddin Mohd Salleh said there was room for improvement after the conclusion of the programme.
“We are quite happy to see the well-equipped classrooms, which helps with discussions, but unfortunately while trying to improve the quality of fitness here, only two managed to pass the fitness test during the course,” he said. “Therefore you need to wake up and think on how to improve for the future,” he added.
He also called on local referees to obtain a video assistant refereeing (VAR) licence, stating it is now something that is needed for international events.
“If they don’t have the licence, they cannot officiate in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League,” he said.
“Even the AFC Cup has also started using VAR”, he said, adding that games in Brunei need to start using VAR technology. “Tonga (a country with a quarter of the population of Brunei) has already started using VAR,” he noted.
The ASEAN Football Federation is also seriously considering the use of VAR, so without the licence, a referee can only officiate local leagues.”
The closing ceremony for the MA Refereeing Course 2023 took place yesterday, with Football Association of Brunei Darussalam Technical Director Paul Munster handed over certificates to participants who completed the programme.
He called on them to strengthen their mental fortitude and never stop learning, adding that referees have the toughest job in the sport.
“The teams don’t like you, the fans will not like you, and the players will not like you,” he said.
“And there are always new rules, so it is important to never stop learning,” he added. – James Kon
