Delhi churning out good referees

NEW DELHI: What if Delhi does not enjoy any success on the national soccer scene? Capital’s soccer buffs should be thankful for small mercies — Delhi is slowly turning out to be a good breeding ground of high quality referees.
Krishan Avtaar is back after performing linesman duty in the pre-Olympic qualifier between UAE and Tajikistan while FCI colleague Rizwan-ul-Haq is preparing himself for the crucial task of supervising another qualifier from the middle — between Kuwait and Palestine at a neutral venue in Jordan on June seven.
And to boot, five Delhi referees — Ashoke Ghosh, Bikramjit Purakayasthya, Sitendu Saha, Mohammed Kamil and Hari Chand — were promoted to the national grade by the All India Football Federation on Saturday.
“The official register informs that now there are as many as eleven national grade referees in Delhi. Two among them are FIFA referees while one is ex-FIFA,� B.S.Chauhan, secretary of Delhi Referees Board, told TNN.
“True, we don’t have a professional set-up but we coordinate among ourselves. Every Sunday morning, we (a group of more than 35 referees) gather to discuss technical aspects and practical situations,� 37-year old FIFA referee Rizwan said. “We started this in 1994 and the results are showing,� Avtaar added.
What about talk that examinations for referees in India are a farce and that top officials influence the results? “Never,� thundered Rizwan. “One has to be associated with the state association for a minimum of six years to have his name recommended. And one has to secure 80 per cent marks in the written test to qualify.� How could one become a good referee? “Meditation is the key,� Rizwan said while for Avtaar, eye-mind coordination defined the job.
“We draw inspiration from our seniors who share their experiences with us. They are a boon for us,� Bikramjit, also from FCI, said.
What about emoluments? ‘‘It’s good enough. For a pre-Olympic match, it’s $300 per person per day while in the NFL it’s Rs 1200 each per day for the team of four plus additionals,� Rizwan informed.
What was their impression of this season’s NFL which ended recently. “East Bengal (the champs) had the fire in their belly,� Rizwan said. “It was a concerted team effort, something which Mohun Bagan possessed last season.�