Lahore, 11 April: Lahore get lion’s share of attention as seven of the Pakistan’s second biggest city girls viz Laila Zafar, Saiqah Waris, Fehmida Ayub, Shazia Ramzan, Sabiha Khalil, Saima Majeed and Bushra Khanam are among the 14 participants of PFF Women Referee Consolidating Course. The six-day Course commenced at FIFA House, Ferozpur Road, Lahore today and will conclude on 15 April 2011.
According to PFF Women Administrator and Course Coordinator Neha Zia, participants from Lahore, Vehari, Rawalpindi, Khybar Pakhtunkhawa and Bahawlpur will learn under Referees Manager Qazi Mohammad Asif and Instructors Salah Uddin Awan and Arif Siddqui. The Course have been designed under directives of Pakistan Football Federation (PFF)’s President Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat to reinforce contacts between Pakistan football’s governing body and women referees at a time when women’s football is developing at a rapid pace.
“In organising this course, PFF is offering women referees the opportunity for expert instruction in the laws of the game and physical preparation, which should enable them to further improve their performance.”
“Women’s football is arguably the fastest growing sport in Asia and it is high time women practitioners of the game received separate and suitable recognition – on par with the men. Gone are the days when the women’s version was considered a pale and inferior shadow of the men’s game in our continent. A time is not far way when a female referee will not only supervise the National event final but Pakistan will also provide a FIFA Female Referee, and ongoing Course will help PFF a lot in this scheme,” added PFF Women Committee Chairperson Robina Irfan. She occupied the new role during 28th December 2010 PFF Congress after being successful Chairperson of PFF Women Wing from 17 December 2005 to 7 August 2010.
The current PFF set-up met another milestone when FIFA gave inclusion to Pakistan Women football team in the FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking.”Under dynamic leadership of PFF Chief, we have worked hard for seven years to build up women’s football and the appreciation from FIFA means very much to us and will inspire us to do even better,” said Robina who added that Pakistan Women is in 121st spot, above 51 nations, in World Ranking.
“The standard of women’s football is progressing extremely rapidly in PFF,” Neha added, “and referees must be ready to face the challenge presented by a game which is more technical, quicker and more hard-fought on the field.The 14 participants will undergo a fitness test and take part in a training programme at Punjab Stadium, and discuss a series of important topics relating to the laws of the game.”
“Criteria will be issued to help the referees take decisions in certain key situations, such as for tackles and their consequences, and when a goal-scoring opportunity is denied. Discussions will also centre on how referees should act in the case of players who are in an offside position, but who are involved in active play.” concluded Neha.
14 Participants of Women Referee Consolidating Course
Lahore: Laila Zafar, Saiqah Waris, Fehmida Ayub, Shazia Ramzan, Sabiha Khalil, Saima Majeed, Bushra Khanam
Vehari: Huma Shehzadi
Rawalpindi: Sehrish Tariq, Rabia Hameed
Khyber Pakhtunkhawa: Salma Faiz, Shaista Kanwal
Bahawalpur: Shaista Jabeen, Huma Bilal
Women Referee Consolidating Course
PFF create a female pathway that allows female referees to progress: Lodhi
Lahore, 12 April: Fourteen young referees continued the PFF Women Referee Consolidating Course at FIFA House, Ferozpur Road, Lahore, organized by PFF, as instructors Salah Uddin Awan and Arif Siddiqui helped run through the rules of the game as well as the stringent guidelines the officials need to keep. The course will run until 15 April.
The second day included intensive sessions across nine hours but despite the lengthy seminars, the referees expressed their enthusiasm and hope for developing soccer in Pakistan.
“The course is very relaxed and there is minimal physical activity involved so if you want to have fun, keep fit and meet new friends then this may be the course for you. All through the processes the PFF have an excellent support network to help you achieve your ambitions what ever they may be.” added Referee Manager Qazi Asif who controlled Women Matches in 1990 Asian Games at Beijing as FIFA Referee.
Pakistan Football Federation (PFF)’s Secretary General Lt.Col ® Ahmed Yar Khan Lodhi said that there is no doubt this is a great time to be female referee with opportunities to reach the highest level of the game quite quickly or of course you can just get a lot of pleasure and fun from doing the odd game in your local area.
Laila Zafar, one of the seven participants from Lahore (other being Saiqa Waris, Fehmida Ayub, Shazia Ramzan, Sabiha Khalil, Saima Majeed, Bushra Khanam) said: “I always try to be the best in what I do; it is my hope that I can prove this here too.” Vehari’s lone representative Huma Shehzadi said. “It is my dream to reach the day when I would receive my main referee badge.”
Rawalpindi’s Sehrish Tariq is one of the female attending the course and explained that she hopes to become the first female referee to supervise the final of National Women Championship. Other Rawalpindi women in the 6-day course is Rabia Hameed.
Women’s Football is the fastest growing participation sport in the Country and Pakistan is no different with in excess of around 48 team’s catering for women’s & girls football in the Country. In recognition of this, PFF, under instructions of: Pakistan Football Federation (PFF)’s President Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat, have created a female pathway that allows female referees to progress through the ranks to International status by only refereeing women’s football, an initiative that helps women referees who wish to be involved only in women’s football and recognises the standard and quality of women’s football.
“Referees are an important part of our game and as the popularity of women football continues to grow across Pakistan, the demand for match officials is increasing. It can be a very rewarding challenge, encouraging a healthy lifestyle as well as significantly contributing to the development of the game,” concluded Lodhi.
i want to be a foot ball referee, i am haveing a lot of interest. can any one guid me for this? please. i am 21 now, i was player of football but i love to be referee. 03342467273