AFC says not ready?

"AFC says not ready" - as mentioned in Maldivesoccer. Ali Adil is not ready to an AFC Elite Referee yet. This was based on his performance in the second Semi Final match - Victory versus New Radiant. For every incident that happen in our lives, there is always a blessing in disguise. When Allah closes a window He will open up many other windows. It is our duty and effort to see the signs and cues and develop ourself towards taking the right opportunity at the right time.

Failure is when we don't get up after falling. We have to accept our weaknesses, look into our strengths and see how to use our strengths to overcome the weaknesses. The Dhivehi league season has just concluded. From the matches analysis, many of the incidents, mistakes, careless mistakes and wrong decisions occurred during the last ten minutes of the game. Some of these decisions or mistakes change the results of the matches with goal allowed or disallowed. Some even resulted in the coach being sacked due to failure of the team caused by the referee's decisions and some players were also terminated their contracts.

Preparation of referees for the match is a vital factor in ensuring excellent performance in refereeing. Proper rest, mental preparation, fitness training, pregame discussion and mental strength are some of the important factors to be considered by the referee. Every match need to be treated as important. It cannot be treated as another football match as many teams have undergone strenuous training in the hot sun and it is unfair that the referee's decision jeopardized their results by making careless mistakes.

Self-evaluation is more important than the evaluation given by the referee's assessors (RA). Comment and advice from the RA if being absorbed and accepted should be put into practice to generate new skills, experiences and performance. If one's mind is closed to accepting advice and comment, the mind will nor flourish and expand towards achiving success. If one is strong with his personal ego then whatever advices will not penetrate into his mind. Thus the assessment practices by FAM on referee will be a failure. Careless mistakes in the last quarter of the match as mentioned before are due to self carelessness, complacency, poor positioning due to fitness level, fatigue and also lack of full commitment towards each game.

The Referees department feels that some senior referees are already in their 'comfort zone' and thus, are not ready to undergo paradigm shift to better themselves. Getting the younger referees to be motivated and groom into better referees is one way to create a challenge to the senior referee. Everyone should not feel that they are indispensable - cannot be replaced. It is better to have a group of young referees who are willing to change and work towards excellence rather a group of senior referee who refuses to accept any comment or advices to change. For things to change, we must first change ourself.

If a referee feel that he is too good to change than it is better for him to stay at home so that his arrogant or ego will not be threat to others that is the players, team, team officials, fellow referees and also the supporters.