Blog,  Interviews

‘Barbadian referees are as fit as the refs in EPL’

Adrian Skeete has officiated his last match for 2011 already. The season final was this week. “And it went well”, says the referee from Barbados.

This is the second part of an interview by Dutch Referee Blog with him. You can read part one here.

How do Concacaf and Fifa support you in becoming a top referee?

“I’m in the Refereee’s Assistance Programme, which is a project put together by FIFA to assist in the growth and development and all referees. Making sure we interpret, and implement the LOTG the game, providing fit, healthy, consistent quality referees in the region.”

Logo Concacaf
Logo Concacaf
“To date there are no full-time or professional Referees in the Caribbean Football Union. This, however, is not because of lack of talent, fitness, or technique; our referees are exceptional, and given the chance we have already proven ourselves at the world stage, with Ramesh Ramdhan, Peter Prendergast who both refereed at a World Cup.”

You’re a international referee now. How did you experience your first matches abroad?

“Cuba – Aruba, a Londen 2012 Olympic Qualifier, was my first overseas assignment. It was the most exhilarating experience of my life. I got to work with some of the most talented Referees (Canaan St. Catherine; St. Lucia) and ARs (Graeme Browne, St. Kitts & Nevis, Jerrell Kraag; Suriname), and a very talented and patient Match Commissioner in Damien Hughes.”

“I could not have asked for a better first overseas appointment. It was a journey that will live with me forever. Wearing the FIFA badge for the first time going into the airport and getting smiles and glares was a great experience.”

“I learned that through my journey in life, as long as I am a referee (not just a FIFA referee), I am a role model; exceptional conduct and a pleasant manner is the key to keeping the image of FIFA to it’s highest standard.”

What’s the quality of Barbadian referees in comparison with referees from other countries?

“Our referees are extremely fit, on average we complete fifteen laps of the FIFA interval fitness test. There is no doubt in my mind that we are just as fit as the referees in the English Premier League.
That was justified when two of our Concacaf Elite referees (Trevor Taylor(R) and Adrian Goddard (AR) were appointed to the 2011 Gold Cup in the USA.”

“I hope for much more success for our country, but this can only be achieved by investment in our referees, helping them go full time or professional. This success can be seen in the quality of refereering in the UK, Italian, Spanish and South American leagues, where referees that have gone full time also achieved greatness on the world stage.”

You can read the last part tomorrow.

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