Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Australian Stephen Lucas loves football refereeing so much that he sometimes feels like a referee in the office where he works in his fulltime job.
This is especially so after a long refereeing spell, sometimes up to three weeks at one time, before going back to the office of insurance company Aeon Sydney where he works as a consultant in risk accounting.
“Sometimes, after a long and far-away refereeing trip, I go back to the office and still fell like a referee. I guess my passion for the game and refereeing is too great.
“However, whether you are my customer at the office or football players on the field, you shouldn’t be worried. I can get switch between these two roles easily and maintain my effectiveness in both areas of my work,” said the New South Wales-based referee.
Lucas is one of the members of the AFC Project Future Referees’ Batch 2010 which is attending its First Development Course here in Malaysia’s capital on May 26-31.
Project Future is a long-term coaching and refereeing development programme initiated by the AFC as an integral part of the vision of AFC President Mohamed Bin Hammam to develop football throughout Asia.
Lucas’ role in the office which involves adding value for clients could not be more different from his position on the field where he calls the shots.
“In the office, my work involves accommodating clients’ needs, but on the field, it’s totally the other way round. But I enjoy both roles immensely,” said Lucas who has been refereeing since the young age of 14.
“It’s nice and fun to have such a variety,” he said.