Indian Football Referees Association (IFRA) in Kuwait

THE INDIAN FOOTBALL REFEREES ASSOCIATION -KUWAIT
P.O.BOX 341, 15454 DASMAN-KUWAIT
TEL: 2455777-2404914 FAX: 2455779-4316956

http://www.goa-world.net/sports/

This association was formed on December 5, 1980, by a group of Seven-7
expatriate Indians, qualified as referee and the members of Bombay and
Goa Referees' Associations, later called as, the Founder Members, with
the blessings of The Kuwait Football Association. The Association was
then headed by (late) Mr. Jerome Pascoal D'Mello, (popularly known in
India and Kuwait as J.P). Ex-FIFA Referee and Member of Asian Football
Confederation Referees Committee and Ex-Hon. Secretary and member of
Bombay Referees' Association, as President, until his departure to India
in 1986. Mr. D'Mello, who lived in Andheri East, Bombay, left for his
heavenly abode in 1994.

He was succeeded by Vice-President, Mr. Dominic Monserrate, a member of
Goa Football Referees' Association, for a brief period as President in
1987.

Mr. Apolinaris Ejechial D'souza, a member of Bombay Referees'
Association since 1964, and the Founder Hon. Secretary from 1980 to
1986, a Member of the Board of Examiners from its inception, took over
the reigns of the Association, as President and Chairman of the Board
of Examiners in March 1988. The association Trains and Recruits new
Referees, as its members, who provide services for the supervision of
Football matches for both Indian and other Expatriate Tournament
Organizers since 1980.

The association which provided its services form 1980 to various
Tournament Organizers prior to the formation of The Kuwait Indian
Football Federation (K.I.F.F.) in 1984, which now controls all
Expatriates Indians Football activities at the Al-Sour Ground at
Kuwait City, also provides its services to KIFF to supervise its
Four (4) Regular, Five(5) 7-A-Side and Oner 9-A-Side Non-Regular
Tournaments and the J.P. Memorial Rolling Trophy -KIFF League. Every
to others since 1998, such as, the tournaments organized by the United
Malayalee Organization, (a group of 13 Indian Malayalee Associations in
Kuwait), Biman Bangladesh Tournament-Organized by Biman Bangladesh
Airlines-Kuwait and Expatriate League-Organized by Expatriate
European/Arabs in Kuwait.

Despite opposition from some political mined members of KIFF the
association, under the able leadership and expert guidance of
Mr. D'souza, since 1988, the strength of the Association gradually has
increased, which is now raised to Thirty-30 members of whom Nineteen-19
are Active Referees. The Examination Sub-Committee, consisting of Mr.
D'souza, Chairman, with Members, Mr. Diego Rebello Vice President and
Mr. Peter Monteiro Hon. Secretary, regularly conducts two(2) Refreshers
and Coaching classes yearly for the benefit of the members and new
recruits. The association aims at recruiting and training a good number
of players to qualify as referees, which is supported by many players
attending the said course for qualification. the Examination
sub-Committee
conducts its Annual Examinations for its members, during the month of
August
each year.

I.F.R.A. is the only Recognized and Registered Expatriate Qualified
Football Referees' body in Kuwait, being Registered with the Indian
Embassy in Kuwait. The Football Association and The Referees'
Association - U.K., who provide/supply with the "Laws of the
Game"/Refrees Charts and other necessary referees' accessories.
The Bombay Referees' Association, provides the association members with
the "Soccer Magazine" and other relevant information of latest changes
of the Laws of the Game, etc. The Certificates issued by IFRA to its
members are recognized in India, by all State Referees' Associations.

- Gaspar Almeida