Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Kuala Lumpur: Three AFC Referee Assessors including the late Ahmad Jassim of Bahrain were given special recognition for their contribution to referee development especially in the year 2012.
Richard Lorenc (left) of Australia, Japan’s Obata Shinichiro (second, right) and Abdul Rahman Al-Delawar (centre) on behalf of the family of Jassim, received the recognition plaques from AFC General Secretary Dato’ Alex Soosay during an AFC Referee Assessor Course in Kuala Lumpur on Monday.
Speaking in appreciation of their contributions, Dato’ Alex said: “These three Referee Assessor friends of ours are distinguished personalities and professionals. I’d like to congratulate them for their achievements.
“One of them, late Ahmad Jassim, was also a true professional who made a lot of fantastic contributions to the referees. He’s greatly missed.”
Lorenc said: “It’s an honour and privilege to be working with the AFC. I hope all of our referees will be even greater this year. They have been becoming better each year, of this I’m convinced.”
Shinichiro commented: “I’m really happy to receive this recognition from the AFC. I was born in 1952, so, as person over the age of 60, I’m pleased to be still making contribution to our common footballing cause.”
Al-Delawar, on behalf of the family of Jassim, said: “It’s really quite hard to talk for Jassim because he was one of the best. His death saddens us as he was always there to support everyone and we learned a lot from him.”
Jassim was Bahrain Football Association General Secretary and also served Asian football as referee assessor, referee recruiter and match commissioner. As a referee he officiated in the 1986, 1990 and 1994 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and 1989 FIFA U-20 World Cup qualifiers apart from a host of continental games.