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Local FIFA female Referee Nicola Joseph invited to SCHWAN’S USA CUP
Nicola Joseph (2nd right) in control of this match between Suriname and St. Vincent at the GCC in March 2012. (File photo) (Inset) Nicola Joseph.
By Franklin Wilson
The exploits of Guyana’s Referees who’ve made the FIFA list over the past decade or so, females and males have been well documented. These officials have kept standards high and are poised to continue in that vein with the aim of achieving even higher heights.
Some of the names that readily comes to mind are Diane Ferreira-James, Kim Babb, Lawrence ‘Sparrow’ Griffith, Roy McArthur and Dion Inniss to name a few. Of course the list can go on with numerous others making the grade and excelling.
But for now the focus is on Ms. Nicola Joseph who is Guyana’s lone female Referee on the 2013 FIFA List.
Joseph whose career as a referee whistled off in 2005 has continued to climb the ladder of success similarly to that of the recently retired, and arguably Guyana’s most recognized Referee, Diane Ferreira-James.
Joseph has been invited by the Referee’s Committee of the SCHWAN’S USA CUP to participate in that tournament from July 12-20, 2013. Commenting on the invitation, Joseph said that it is an honour to have been considered to officiate at this prestigious Cup which is the United States of America’s largest International Youth Soccer tournament.
It will be held at the National Sports Centre in Blaine, Minnesota. The goal of SCHWAN’S USA CUP is to promote friendly competition, personal growth and an International understanding through soccer.
One reason for the tremendous success of SCHWAN’S USA CUP is the commitment of the organizers to quality officiating. Also, the tournament affords Referees the opportunity to gain International officiating experiences with teams representing Eastern and Western Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas.
Joseph informed that she stared as an Assistant Referee at the Under-15 level in 2005 and also did games at the Under-10 level that same year as well as the Kashif & Shanghai tournament’s opening game.
But her desire was always to be in charge of the action from center field, so it was no surprise when she made the switch in 2006 and has never looked back since having gained experience at every level of competition locally from youth competitions all the way to International friendly matches.
“I am indeed elated to be invited to officiate at this youth competition which is the biggest in the USA. I have been training very hard as usual and will do the best I can even as I continue to gain experience in this exciting profession.”
A mother of one girl, Joseph is originally from Paramakatoi, Region 8 and first made the FIFA list back in 2010. She was quick to point out that she has a foundation as a player from her younger days competing among the boys in her village as well as Brazil where she was able to play amongst women also.
The soft spoken Joseph said that she loved the sport so much that she wanted to remain a part of it and the next best area after playing was becoming a referee. Encouragement to take up this aspect of the sport came from none other than, Diane Ferreira-James.
“Since I made the transition to taking up the whistle, I have no regrets and am proud of where I have reached but still have a long way to go”.
Joseph has so far officiated at numerous tournaments since graduating to the FIFA list. Among them are four (4) International appointments and eleven (11) International matches. She also officiated in FIFA World Cup qualifiers in 2010 and the same year attended a CFU Elite Referees course in the Twin Island of Trinidad and Tobago.
Her aim is to keep climbing the ladder of success: “Well, the SCHWAN’S USA CUP is a good way for me to continue gaining experience and being the best. This will help in my preparations for the Under-20 World Cup Qualifiers starting this year too.”
Other local female officials on the FIFA list for 2013 are all Assistant Referees, they are Nykasi Liverpool, Cynette Jeffrey and Odessa Caleb.
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