the goan I network
MARGAO
Calling it “a dream come true”, Maria Rebello says she is honoured to be chosen by Asian Football Confederation to be a Technical Assessor at the next month’s Asian Games, which will be held in Jakarta and Palembang, in Indonesia.
“It is a dream come true for me as I have been selected by the AFC for the Games,” the Referee Inspector from Curtorim told The Goan. “I am proud and happy about the call by the AFC and confident of living up to the level needed at the big continental event.”
Rebello had created history at the Asian Games 2014 in Incheon where she officiated in three matches as a referee. She also officiated at AFC U-19 Championship in
Hanoi, Vietnam.
A former international footballer, Rebello captained the Indian women’s team that participated in the 2001 AFC Women’s Championship in Chinese Taipei. Though her team lost in the group stage and she retired soon after that, the desire to keep in touch with the sport made her enrol for a refereeing course.
Born and brought up in the picturesque village of Curtorim -- which has been a cradle of footballers, having produced champions like Antonio Rebello, Armando Colaco, Robert Fernandes, late Leopoldo Fernandes, Cyril Rodrigues, Roy Baretto, Alex Rebello and Roque Carneiro -- Maria started playing football at an early age with the boys from her village. She spent her school days playing the game in the paddy fields with makeshift goals.
“Playing there is what helped me become rough and tough. That enabled me to become the footballer I am. My parents’ support was instrumental in me taking up football as a profession,” she said.
Rebello did her training at the Bombay Referees Association (BRA) and then joined the Goa Football Association to ply her trade. She officiates in all the local leagues and inter-village games. “First people used to be wary of me, but over the years I’ve built a name for myself and earned the respect,” she signed off.
