feb.08.2007
"At the Awards when I heard they called the most experienced local FIFA referees Neil Brizan and Lee Davis I asked myself, what am I doing on that list," said Referee of the Year Shane De Silva.
Shane De Silva was awarded the Referee of the Year award at the 2006 TT Pro League Awards Ceremony on Saturday night at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, P.O.S.
Shane De Silva, a full time school teacher became the first woman to be named Referee of the Year, she told ttproleague.com, "When I heard my name called as the Referee of the Year I was so elated at the moment and to know that I am the first ever female to win the award, it makes it even more special. I had edged two of the top local referees and that was such a great feeling. This award speaks a lot for women in a man's world," said De Silva.
Shane who has been refereeing for the past twelve years and she has been on the FIFA panel for the last four years says that it was never an objective of hers to win the Award, "I had never looked forward to winning such an award. As a referee my main objective was to go out and give my best on the field of play because in the Pro League teams are playing for the top prizes locally and they deserve a fair match."
"The feedback I would get from the Pro League teams is great. They were always very pleased with my performance winning or losing and that is something I am always proud of," said the modest Referee of the Year.
De Silva, is also a former National and West Indies Cricketer teaches at the Hochoy Memisa Special School and says she isn't looking to quit refereeing any time soon, "I don't see myself retiring any time soon as a referee. I would probably stay on the international scene for another five years," ended the 2006 Referee of the Year.
FIFA Referees Neil Brizan and Lee Davis were both nominated for the Referee of the Year award while Lyndon Burton was awarded the Assistant Referee of the Year Award.