The Programme was inaugurated by DSYS Principal Secretary Vishal Kumar Dev on January 16. Speaking on the occasion, Dev said, “This program has been specially designed to benefit the former district and state level football players of Odisha. An important part of the process is to have good quality officials in competitive games that are played in the State.

Therefore, we decided to collaborate with AIFF and FAO in order to increase the number of qualified referees we have across the State. This would be an opportunity for all undergoing the courses to develop a professional career as a referee, which is fast becoming a viable career option due to increase in professional football played in the country (I-League, ISL, Indian Women’s League, Youth Leagues, Khelo India leagues, more international matches, etc).”

According to FAO secretary Asirbad Behera the programme will certainly help former players who want to pursue a career as football match officiating and will also help them to earn a livelihood.

AIFF instructors Murti G (Bengaluru, Karnataka) and Pijus Biswas (Kolkata, West Bengal) conducted the course. Durga Madhab Naik (Head of the Referee, FAO) was the coordinator.
----------------------------------------------------------------------- PICS -----------------------------------------------------------------------
TOP: Guests, officials and candidates at opening ceremony of the CAT-5 Referees Development Programme in Bhubaneswar on 16 January, 2020.
RIGHT: Second batch candidates with instructors at the CAT-5 Referees Development Programme in Bhubaneswar on 25 January, 2020.