Dili, Timor-Leste – Over six days, from April 15th to April 21st, 2024, Dili played host to the Timor-Leste FIFA-Referee Course, National Level. The event, aimed at bolstering the skills and knowledge of national-level referees, marked a significant stride in the development of football officiating in the country.
Distinguished figures including Mr. Gregorio Correia, the General Secretary of the Football Federation of Timor-Leste, alongside Referee Development Officers for the Asian Region, Mr. Mohamad Rodzali Yacob and Ms. Widiya Habibah Shamsuri from Malaysia, graced the occasion. Local instructors such as Mr. Nivio Fernandes, Mr. Vital Saldanha, Mr. Elisio Lopes Pereira, Mr. Jaime Gonçalvess, Mr. Lourenço Guterres, and Assistant Instructors Mr. Filomeno, Mr. Cancio Soares, and Mr. Antonio Carvalho also played pivotal roles in the event’s success.
Thirty-two participants hailing from various municipalities across Timor-Leste, including Viqueque, Baucau, Lospalos, Dili, Aileu, Same, Bobonaro, Liquica, and Ermera, actively engaged in the course, underscoring a nationwide commitment to football officiating excellence.
The primary objectives of the course were manifold, aiming to enhance skill sets, build capacity, foster rule interpretation, refine communication and leadership abilities, emphasize fitness and conditioning, promote fair play, and encourage networking and collaboration among referees.
By achieving these objectives, the course aspired to elevate the standard of football officiating in Timor-Leste, contributing significantly to the overall development and growth of football within the nation.
