AS the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) in conjunction with the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation, prepares to host the country’s first International Futsal tournament, local futsal referees will, over the next five days, be engaged in a workshop, compliments of CONCACAF and FIFA.

FIFA Instructor Shane Butler, opened the workshop yesterday, which will engage the 17 futsal officials from Linden, Berbice, West Demerara, Essequibo and Georgetown, and is aimed at ensuring that the participants are updated on the laws of the game and interpretation.

“The technique we’ll be using is explaining a clip as far as the severity of a foul, the levels and how they can decide between a careless foul, a simple foul or a reckless foul. Also, we’re going to explain interpretations that are different from the outdoor game – signalling, mechanics – and field sessions, just to make the referees much better,” Butler explained.

GFF president Wayne Forde urged the participants to make the most of the opportunities being afforded them over the next five days.

“To keep apace of the demands of the fans and to ensure there’s consistency in the delivery of quality on the field of play, it’s necessary that we make the investment that we’re making here today in the capacity of our referees,” Forde said.

The workshop comes at a time when Futsal is one of the fastest growing forms of football in Guyana.

The programme will be held daily from 10:00hrs to 17:00hrs at the Resource Centre, with practical sessions from 15:00hrs to 16:30hrs on Friday and Saturday at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue.

The GFF has partnered with the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation, ExxonMobil and Ansa McAl to launch an eight-team International Futsal tournament, which will be played from December 27 to 30.

Trinidad and Tobago’s Morvant Caledonia United will head the list of teams from overseas which also features ZV All-Stars from Suriname, and Brazilian side from the state of Sau Paulo.

While in Guyana, the teams will collide with a Guyana Select side, along with a team from Linden, East Bank Demerara and West Demerara football associations.