Grenada has recorded another significant achievement in the sport of football — 2 Grenadians have been appointed to the FIFA Referees and Assistant Referees Panel for 2016.
Being appointed to the FIFA Panel is recognition of hard work, knowledge of the game and skill in refereeing.
Kuan Budd, an assistant referee of St Patrick, appointed for the 4th consecutive time. He has had a successful year refereeing GFA top division matches and completing the referee’s fitness test.
Being appointed for the first time is Assistant Referee Akeeba Clovey of Victoria, St Mark. He has also had a successful year of refereeing matches at all levels of GFA competition.
Both received their ID cards and other gear at a short handover ceremony at the GFA Secretariat on Friday, 15 January 2016.
GFA Vice President Allan James congratulated the gentlemen, and reminded them to keep working hard because they are now the international faces of Grenada for refereeing.
GFA Technical Instructor Valman Bedeau, who has spent more than a decade on the FIFA Referees list, said to the awardees, “This is just the beginning. Set short-term goals, work hard and stay focused, because it is not easy out there.”
Kuan Budd, who was first appointed to the FIFA Referees Assistants list since 2013, says he takes the reappointment as a sense of comfort, “It tells me that whatsoever I would have done over the few years someone would have seen, they appreciate, and as a result, I have been given favour once more.”
New kid on the block Akeeba Clovey is looking forward to the challenge saying, “To get to the top, you must believe in yourself.”
For 2016, the GFA will roll out a referees recruitment programme to increase the numbers of match officials on the island.
Technical Instructor Bedeau says the GFA is targeting physical education teachers, the Royal Grenada Police Force and others who may be interested. If you have an interest you can call the GFA Secretariat at 440-9903 or email [email protected].
