Tran Duy Khanh and the path to becoming a FIFA assistant referee
(Baonghean.vn) - Tran Duy Khanh came to the refereeing profession as if it were destiny. With his tireless efforts, he has achieved unexpected success. At V.League 2022, FIFA assistant referee Tran Duy Khanh excellently won the Bronze Flag of the Year title.
Memorable milestone
We had an appointment with assistant referee Tran Duy Khanh at a small coffee shop near Vinh Stadium. It was around 10am, the weather in Vinh was scorching hot, the temperature was up to 38 degrees Celsius, before he could sit down he quickly drank a glass of water. "Please understand, I just came back from practice so I'm a bit thirsty" - referee Tran Duy Khanh said.
We understand that the refereeing profession is as difficult and arduous as any other profession. To pass the physical fitness tests, referees often have to maintain a regular daily training regimen. When the time comes close to the FIFA referee health test, the training volume is even more intense.
“In the FIFA referee health exam, the physical fitness tests are extremely harsh. We have to run dozens of kilometers in weather around 38 degrees Celsius. That is why I still have to practice every day in such harsh conditions to ensure my physical fitness for the tests,” said Tran Duy Khanh.
That is just one of many factors that FIFA assistant referees must practice hard. To do well in the role of flag bearer, each referee must always be aware of improving their skills and professional expertise, as well as being strict with themselves.
Assistant referee Tran Duy Khanh shared: “As a national referee with many years of experience, in addition to professional factors, we must always maintain concentration. Because in a very short period of time, measured in seconds, if the referee loses concentration and makes a wrong decision, it will affect the entire situation of the match. Therefore, every time we go on the field, we must overcome the pressure.”
In 3 years of controlling the tournamentV.League, assistant referee Tran Duy Khanh always completes his tasks well, is considered one of the highly professional assistant referees, not influenced by any external influences. Therefore, in 2019, assistant referee Tran Duy Khanh was recognized and appointed as a FIFA assistant referee.
“Wearing the FIFA referee logo on my chest brings me great pride, but it also brings a lot of pressure. Because at that time, I always have to be aware that I am representing the Vietnamese National Referee in international matches. Therefore, I always have to try to limit unnecessary mistakes” - assistant referee Tran Duy Khanh shared.
Although he has only participated in the youth tournaments in the Asian youth tournament system, these are valuable experiences for him. Because through international matches like these, Duy Khanh has had the opportunity to interact with many different football environments, learn a lot of new knowledge, and through that, his professional expertise has been significantly improved.
After 6 years of working in the top football environment, 2022 is a memorable milestone for assistant referee Tran Duy Khanh. He was awarded the Bronze Flag of the Year title by the V.League Organizing Committee and the VFF Referee Committee.
Tran Duy Khanh shared: “That was a memorable moment in my career. This brought me pride and also motivated me to continue striving for higher goals in the future.”
The arrangement of fate
Tran Duy Khanh's path to becoming a referee was also very coincidental. Since childhood, Tran Duy Khanh had a hobby of watching football and because of that, he understood the rules of this sport quite well. Up to grade 11, the assistant referee born in 1982 participated in activities at the Youth Union of Le Mao Ward, Vinh City. This was the opportunity for him to become a referee.
He recalled that in 1998, Le Mao ward organized a football tournament between the blocks in the ward. Duy Khanh was then a member of the Executive Committee of Le Mao ward, so he was there to support the teams participating in the tournament. During a match, due to an unexpected problem, the linesman was not present. Therefore, the Organizing Committee mobilized union members who were capable to participate in waving the flag. Very quickly, Tran Duy Khanh volunteered and that was the opportunity for him to step into the refereeing profession.
“I came to the refereeing profession by chance, by fate. I was very lucky to do the job that I love” - assistant referee Tran Duy Khanh recalled.
After that involuntary flag-holding, Mr. Nguyen Mai Tu - a referee in Nghe An discovered that Duy Khanh possessed all the qualities and demeanor of a professional referee. Therefore, he encouraged and guided Duy Khanh to follow this path.
In the following years, after leaving school, Duy Khanh decided to enter the refereeing profession. Duy Khanh participated in all the major and minor grassroots tournaments in Nghe An province and made a good impression on the sports community of his home province. In 2008, after completing the primary refereeing course organized by the Vietnam Football Federation, he continued to attend the advanced course. Duy Khanh's path to becoming a professional referee also began from that time. After 8 years of pursuing the profession, making many impressions on the National Referee Board, assistant referee Tran Duy Khanh was officially allowed to participate in the highest football tournament in Vietnam.
This is not only an honor for Duy Khanh but also a pride for Nghe An sports in general and Nghe An referees in particular because to be in the ranks of V.League referees is not an easy thing. The tournament requires referees to always strive and strive tirelessly. The clearest proof is that Nghe An currently has only 2 referees who are allowed to officiate matches in V.League, which are referee Nguyen Dinh Thai and assistant referee Tran Duy Khanh.
Assistant referee Tran Duy Khanh shared: “If I could choose again, I would still pursue this career. This is not a career that brings wealth, but it allows me to live true to my passion, always having the inspiration to pursue it.”
Nowadays, not many people want to choose the refereeing profession, because there are many challenges. Only those who truly love and are passionate can shine on this path. Assistant referee Tran Duy Khanh is such a person. Hopefully, he will continue to keep the fire burning for the profession, and be an example for the young referee team of Nghe An.
