Ganderbal, July 11 (JKNS): Marking a historic leap in sports capacity building and technical expertise, the Directorate of Youth Services & Sports (DYSS), J&K on Saturday officially rolled out its maiden AIFF (All India Football Federation) Certified Football Referee Course at the Government College of Physical Education (GCOPE), here.
The prestigious four-day certification programme was virtually inaugurated by the Director General, YSS J&K Anuradha Gupta, who graced the occasion as the Chief Guest.
The pioneering initiative has brought together 40 meticulously selected Physical Education teachers and officials representing a vibrant mix of both male and female sports professionals from all 20 districts of the Union Territory.
Organized with the direct technical support and expertise of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), the intensive course is designed to equip participants with top tier professional training.
The comprehensive curriculum delves deep into the latest global Laws of the Game, modern refereeing methodologies, advanced match management, split-second decision-making, elite fitness standards, and hands-on practical officiating skills.
Speaking to the trainees during her virtual address, DG YSS congratulated the batch and highlighted the Department’s strategic focus on empowering grassroots sports educators with national level credentials.
Expressing her utmost gratitude to the All India Football Federation for deputing the best resource persons for the hassle-free and effective organisation of the course, she extended special thanks to Nazir Ahmed Bhat, Head of Referees J&K, for his coordinated efforts in making the course possible.
The elite panel of deputed trainers conducting the course includes Rahul Kumar Gupta (Referee’s Manager, AIFF), Mohd. Kamil (Referee’s Instructor, AIFF), and Umesh Bora (Referee’s Instructor, AIFF).
Emphasizing the transformative impact of the initiative, the DG YSS stated, “True sporting excellence on the field is impossible without absolute precision and professionalism behind the whistle. By introducing this AIFF certification course, DYSS is not just training individuals; we are actively engineering a world class football ecosystem in J&K.
Our goal is to create a robust, highly qualified pool of homegrown referees who will uphold the highest standards of fair play and take our local competitions to a national benchmark. I urge our physical educators to absorb this knowledge passionately and act as catalysts for the growth of the game in every nook and corner of the Union Territory.”
Upon the successful completion of the four-day rigorous module, these 40 officials will step onto the field as certified match officials, ready to lead tournaments with heightened confidence, authority, and modern technical acumen.
The participating officials expressed their profound gratitude to DYSS for bringing such a high caliber national certification to their doorstep.
They highly appreciated the visionary leadership and forward-looking approach of the Director General in designing impactful capacity-building initiatives that directly elevate the career graphs of sports professionals in J&K.
The inaugural ceremony at Ganderbal was attended in person by Joint Director Kashmir Mohammad Rashid Kohli, Principal GCOPE Dr. Showkat Hussain; Youth Services and Sports Officer Ganderbal Ghulam Hassan Lone and Nodal Officer Mushtaq Azad, alongside other senior faculty members and officials of the department. (JKNS)
