Beach Soccer |03 May 2023

Fifa referee instructor Michelle Conti guiding the local referees during the first session yesterday (Photos: Neil Sirame)

Local referees, match officials freshen up through three-day Fifa training

In its bid to upgrade the level of local referees and match officials, the Seychelles Football Federation, through the support of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association is presently hosting a three-day training, gathering over 15 delegates.

Officially launched yesterday morning, the training which is taking place at the Maison Football, and the Roche Caïman Beach Soccer Arena, is principally to familiarise local officials with the recent amendments and reviews on beach soccer policies and rules.

It is being conducted by Fédération Internationale de Football Association (Fifa) referee instructor Michelle Conti.

The former Italian referee explained that the purpose of this course is to improve the level of the referees in Seychelles and educate them on new rules outlined by Fifa in relation to beach soccer.

He said the platform will help the referees to deliver better performance which will impact the game in a different aspect.

With regard to the 2025 Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup which Seychelles will host, Mr Conti said it is of most relevance that a local official is part of the Fifa team that will officiate at the event.

“If you improve the level of the referees you improve the level of the competition,” said Mr Conti who added that the first step is that some referees from Seychelles enter the Fifa list and from there, they can have the opportunity to officiate at the 2025 World Cup.

Steven Domingue, a physical education teacher by profession, is taking part in the training and he said it is important to regularly host courses for officials so that they can stay abreast of the Fifa regulations and also learn new rules and technicalities of the game.

He said the main objective of this refereeing course is to prepare officials from Seychelles, providing them with the opportunity to take part in the 2025 Beach Soccer World Cup.

“To be enlisted and internationally recognised by Fifa, there are different criteria that must be met, including physical test,” added Domingue.

He said, as referees they should be up-to-date with the different policies and rules, while the course provides the time and personnel for the cause.

He said he is grateful for the participation of female officials which shows gender neutrality in beach soccer in Seychelles.

He also mentioned that they are emphasising on sending more qualified referees to officiate at major regional events such as the Africa Beach Soccer Cup of Nations (BSAFCON), in which Seychelles was being represented in 2022 in Mozambique.

Dean Vandertoorn, who has previously represented Seychelles as an official, said the training will bring them to a higher level and teach them what they were missing out.

He added that Seychelles has good officials and this Fifa training will help them polish their skills and correct their mistakes, noting that they are also being briefed on the new amendments and laws of beach soccer.

Vandertoorn who was inspired by Eddie Maillet to become a football official, was previously officiating field soccer before a change of heart led him to join beach soccer.

With 12 years’ experience as a referee he is glad that he is taking part in the beach soccer course.

Neil Sirame