Srikrishna a referee par excellence
Tags:
A football referee’s job is akin to that of a goalkeeper — thankless. The official’s stellar work throughout 90 minutes can be undone by a solitary mistake.
At the same time, it must be said a match will be as good or bad as the referee. An officious adjudicator spoils the game while the efficient one lets the game flow.
Tamil Nadu have a reputation for producing quality referees. The latest to make the state proud is C.R. Srikrishna. The All-India Football Federation adjudged the 34-year-old Coimbatore native the best referee of the 2011-12 I-League season.
“To be declared the country’s best is an honour. It is a great moment for me. I am delighted the AIFF has recognised my hard work,” said an elated Srikrishna. The achievement is indeed commendable as the season was the Fifa referee’s fourth in the country’s top league.
Srikrishna played as a right-back for LG Sports Club in Coimbatore. He took up refereeing when he was 19 years old and he didn’t find the switch from kicking the ball to blowing the whistle daunting.
“After training, I used to discuss at length about the nuances of the game with SDAT coach L.C. John. I always knew I had an inclination towards refereeing,” said Srikrishna.
Srikrishna thanked his senior colleagues and Tamil Nadu’s top referees — K. Sankar, T. Pradeep Kumar and S. Suresh — for their guidance. “The trio have instilled invaluable lessons in me. They have always told me not to make a single mistake rather than trying to commit fewer mistakes — the advice always keeps me on my toes,” he said.
Srikrishna, who sometimes officiates during the CFA senior division league, recollected a match that he officiated as a teenager way back in 1997. “I was surprised when I was asked to referee the ICF-Indian Bank contest in the state championship.
It was a high-profile game with players such as Syed Sabir Pasha and the likes taking part. It was a nervy outing but I am happy it all went well,” he recalled.
Meanwhile, Gautam Kar, the AIFF refereeing head, has informed Srikrishna that his name has been referred to the Asian Football Confederation’s elite panel. And it won’t come as a surprise if the talented Srikrishna makes it to the AFC elite panel list by the end of this year.
Srikrishna, on his part, knows that it is just the beginning and wants to continue the good show. “I have never shied away from hard work and that is the reason for my success.
Appreciation by the AIFF will only make me stronger to go out there and do my job better. I intend to train harder and learn every day,” concluded Srikrishna.
The decision to pick Srikrishna was made after analysing the performances of referees during the national league and also from other tournaments conducted last season.
Pratap Singh, M.B. Santosh Kumar, Ajit Meetei and A. Rowan were also in contention for the top job that eventually went to the Tamil Nadu official.
Delhi’s Mohammad Kamil was named the best assistant referee. The AIFF has announced professional contracts for three referees from the next season.
Post new comment