The participants along with the instructors and others.
Our Correspondent
Kohima | October 2
The five-day Football Referee Clinic under the aegis of Kohima Town Club (KTC) concluded today at Indira Gandhi Stadium, Kohima.
28 participants including 4 girls from Kohima, Dimapur, Phek, and Kiphire were trained by All India Football Federation (AIFF) referee instructor Joy Chandra Singh and national referee Priyobarta from Manipur.
Exhorting the trainees, Dr. Viketoulie Pienyü, president KTC said that the football referee clinic should not be the end for the participants if they wish to pursue professionally.
“This is just the beginning. If you work very hard, you can make a living,” he said.
He informed that after the first football referee clinic conducted by the club in 2018, three referees who underwent the training, have received the Referee Identification Number (RIN).
“Practice whatever you have learned through the clinic and conduct local matches,” he encouraged the participants.
He reiterated that while the club intends to promote and develop the sport in the state, it felt the need to also train, mentor and encourage referees, for which the referee clinic was introduced.
Instructor Singh challenged the participants to maintain fitness and keep in mind the laws of football—the basic foundation to excel as a professional football referee.
Singh, who has been associated with referees from Nagaland since 2009, said that there is a need to increase the standard of refereeing in the state.
He informed that suggestions were made to the Nagaland Football Association to conduct RIN for upcoming referees from the state.
Further, Singh urged the trainees, who will be match officials someday, to be honest while on the field.
The 5-day training started on Tuesday with a short formal ceremony graced by Z. Kire, IPS, Rtd DGP Nagaland and Adviser of the Club as the special guest.
