Match officials in action at the Nagaland Super League. (Photo Courtesy: Talimoa Pongen)
Match officials reflect on thrills and challenges of Nagaland Super League
Rebecca Kits Jakhalu
Kohima | March 7
As the first edition of the Nagaland Super League (NSL) continues its thrilling run, a group of individuals are tirelessly engaged in ensuring a smooth execution of every game.
They are the match officials – referees, assistant referees, and fourth officials – who work behind the scenes to ensure that the beautiful game is played fairly, safely, and with integrity.
But what does it take to be a match official? To understand the kind of pressures they face, and to know how they cope with the stress and scrutiny that come with the job, The Morung Express spoke to some match officials in the league.
For every match, the followingofficials are assigned- a match commissioner, a referee assessor, a referee and two assistant referees and a fourth official.
“It’s not just about blowing the whistle and waving a flag,” said Mechievilie Yashü, Nagaland’s lone national-level referee who is also officiating in the NSL.
“We have to be fully focused and alert throughout the match, and make split-second decisions that can have a significant impact on the game. It is a huge responsibility, and one that we take very seriously,” he added.
In football, there have been cases where some matches have been abandoned due to the conduct of match officials but so far, in the Nagaland Super League, we have not had any major incident affecting the games, Yashü added.
As match officials, we are required to possess a deep knowledge of the game, its rules, and its nuances. We must also be physically fit, able to keep pace with the players and maintain concentration over the course of the match, he also shared.
“Officiating in the NSL is both exciting and challenging,” said Mhasikhonuo Paünuo, an assistant referee who is also the league’s only female match official.”We are now in a formalized competition, and the pressure to perform is intense. It is a big responsibility, but also a chance to showcase our abilities. It is a great feeling to be part of matches, with the crowd cheering and players giving it their all,” she added.
A thankless job
However, with the highs come the lows, and match officials are often the target of abuse and criticism from players, coaches, and spectatorswho may not always agree with the calls made on the field. And often, it remains a thankless job.
At the end of every match, people remember the wins or losses, but hardly remember the role of the officials. It is an overlooked and under-appreciated job most of the time, KevingutuoSekhose, Head of Referee (HoR) Nagaland shared.
Appreciation is very valuable, but in this line of work, it seldom comes, he said. As humans, errors are bound to happen, but in the age of social media, people can be really unforgiving, Sekhose added.
Stating that the first season of the NSL has provided a learning platform for both players and officials alike, he added that, efforts are made at all times to reduce all avoidable errors and ensure smooth match experience for everyone involved. “Sometimes, we make mistakes, but we learn from them and grow,” he said.
“Criticisms and backlashes are part and parcel of our role, but what we remind ourselves is to not be affected by them. I tell the match officials-- Don’t react to the criticisms and comments. Keep calm and keep doing what we have to do,” Sekhose added.
“The intense match environment can sometimes be overwhelming. But every match is an opportunity to improve, and deal with setbacks and handle the pressures better,” Paünuo shared.
Learning and Growing
Match Commissioner Medozevi Punyü shared, “Though in the initial stage, the NSL is already an upgraded and more professional league than what the state has seen so far in terms of play, organising, officiating, and management.”Punyü is also a “C-Category” Referee Instructor affiliated with the All-India Football Federation (AIFF). While small errors are inevitable even in advanced leagues, we do not overlook them either. All matches are revisited and we make necessary rectifications and corrections to avoid repeating them, he shared.
Mention may be made that stringent measures have already been initiated to address irregularities in one of the matches (Match no.24) involving a player, his club and a match referee. Other match officials have also reportedly been placed under observation with official caution. As per the NSL Technical Committee, this has been done to uphold the integrity of the league.
“In order to achieve progress, we have to work together-- players, officials, teams, and fans. But sometimes, there are international level expectations from referees and match officials, while the attitude of the fans and teams are still in the local level,” he quipped.We should all strive together to improve, and level-up, Punyü added.
With the league drawing attention from across the region, referees are working hard to continuously improve their skills. Regular training workshops, discussing difficult match situations with senior referees, and reviewing match footage to improve decision-making, etc are being prioritized.
The Future of Refereeing in Nagaland
For many local referees in Nagaland, the NSL is an uncharted territory. While they may have officiated at the grassroots level, the introduction of a professional league brings new standards to the table.
Among other things, the NSL has opened discussions about Nagaland’s potential for the state to produce its own cadre of professional referees who can officiate at higher levels of competition.
“Having our own referees recognized at the national level would be a huge achievement for us,” said Yashü. “We have a lot of passion for football in Nagaland, and we believe that not only the players but the referees here can help elevate the sport to the next level,” he opined.
It may be mentioned that, apart from the local referees acting as assistant referees in the league, the NSL has roped in national-level referees and assistant referees from other states. This is owing to the fact that Nagaland at present has only one national-level referee.
“We hope to have more referees from our state who can officiate in the future editions of the league, so that we may not need to bring in match officials from outside Nagaland,” Punyü stated.
Highlighting efforts to produce more certified match officials from the state, Referee instructor at AIFF and Zonal Referee Development Officer (ZRDO) for the North East Zone, Joychandra Singh said that with proper training programs, mentorship, and exposure to higher-level matches, local referees will be ready to meet the challenges of a professional football environment.
As more young people pursue football as a career, the role of officiating will become even more important. We need to groom young referees, and provide them proper training, at least 15 days before officiating in any league, Singh shared.
“Overall, this is a good platform for the local referees and the junior referees are also getting good exposure through this league. If the league continues in this manner, it will be highly beneficial for the referees in the state who will get to develop their skills and experiences beyond local matches and tournaments,”Yashüopined.
