Tamil Nadu’s Suresh Srinivasan is now India’s only AFC Referees Instructor, the Asian Governing Body has informed through their assignement list.
The appointment of Suresh, a FIFA Referee and veteran Match Commissioner/Referee Assessor, is based on his performance in the recently concluded AFC Refereeing Education Courses he attended at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from February 7-13, 2014.
Suresh’s first assignment will be in the AFC U-14 Girls Regional Championship, starting March 13 till March 26 in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
“All FIFA Referees aim for this. I am extremely happy that my hard work and dedication has finally seen the light of the day and has been recognized by the supreme body of Asia,” an elated Suresh told AIFF Media.
“Indian referees have a lot of potential. Our Project Future India, which has been there since 2012, is producing some really good referees from its batches. Our aim is to officiate in the FIFA World Cup and I am sure we’ll make it someday,” he added.
Talking about his assignment next month, Suresh said: “It is my turn now to repay the faith showed on me. I have to discharge my duties prudently now and keep the Indian flag flying very high.”
AIFF Head of Referees Goutam Kar, under whose tutelage Suresh took giant strides, said, “We have been training him since 2012. He did very well in Futuro III Courses, last September. That is why AFC has earmarked him for Referee Assessor Recruiter and Instructor Courses. Based on his performance there, he was selected.”
(Report & Picture courtesy AIFF Media)