PF ref Al Hoish cool in final

The Saudi Arabian referee was cool under pressure in the 10-goal thriller which saw both teams locked at 4-4 after 90 minutes before VB Sports emerged as eventual winners after scoring two more goals in extra time.

AFC Project Future Referees Manager George Cumming is pleased with the performance of Al Hoish and his first assistant referee in the final match, Wan Chung Him from Hong Kong.

The Scot said: “The Football Association of Maldives (FAM) Refereeing Director Amir Sharifuddin has asked for Al Hoish and Wan to be the referee and assistant referee in the final match.

“Mohammed has done really well and was cool under the pressure of the final match. I’m sure Mohammed and Wan as well as the other referees in the PF Referees Batch 2010 who took part in a course in the Maldives will be able to step up to the next level.

“FAM is also pleased with his performance and is keen to invite PF Referees to come to the Maldives again for future AFC courses and to officiate in real matches in the island nation.”

Cumming also praised the performance of the other PF referees who officiated in the Maldives’ Third Division matches as part of the programme of their Second Development Course held on 26-31 October 2011 in the Indian Ocean republic.

“Altogether, the PF Referees officiated in 13 matches, 12 of which in the Third Division competition and one being the FA Cup final. Their performance is commendable,” he said.

Maldives has now twice hosted the Second Development Course where PF Referees get the opportunity to officiate real matches as part of their training under the AFC’s two-year referee grooming programme.

Having won the FA Cup and Dhivehi League, VB Sports Club have qualified for the 2012 edition of the AFC Cup, the continent's second-tier club competition.