Our Sports Reporter
GUWAHATI: Football referee is always an issue in the State. But the vice president of the Assam Football Association Dipak Dey, who is also the Head of the Referee of the association, in an interaction with The Sentinel said that plans are chalked out to change the scenario. Here is the excerpt.
TS: What is the present scenario of soccer referee in the state?
Although we have nearly thousand referees across the state but when it comes national badge holders we have only six which included three referees and same number of assistant referees. We also have one FIFA badge holders Sumanta Dutta from Jorhat. Interesting point is that we have noticed good growth in women referees.
TS: Refereeing is always an issue in football competition in the State. Is there any plan from AFA to sort out this problem?
Assam Football Association is seriously thinking to promote referee in the State. We even planned to start an academy to train the young referees so that they can get all necessary helps to become an international referee and that too very early stage of their career. As a first step we will organize a class V referee examination (the lowest category) for the young and fresh referees of the State. Nearly 350 candidates already applied to appear in this examination which would be held very soon in Guwahati.
TS: Academy for referee...new concept!
Yes. Already there are a few academies for referees in different parts of the country and we have planned to start one in Guwahati. Look quality referees can be produced only if young people come in this profession and we need academies for that. Our president Naba Kumar Doley recently submitted a memorandum to CM and seeks his helps to promote soccer in the State. An academy for the referee is also included in the memorandum..
TS: Many feel that football referee has no future. Is it true?
Not at all. If you are qualified in this field your annual income is really attractive. Now in India there are many professional referees including Suman Dutta and they are earning good monthly salary. Actually now a days to become a good referee is very easy. AIFF provides a lot of helps in all areas, like course; facilities to work with top class experts; exposure etc and FIFA too have many plans for the young referees. Time to time they organize different courses and provide good international exposures to them and that too free of coast.