221 pages
Size: 6" x 9"
Language(s): English
Memoirs of an Armenian soccer referee.
Toros Kibritjian is the consummate referee. He has been involved in soccer for over fifty years reaching the acme of the profession as a FIFA Referee.
His involvement in this great game has included a wide range of participation from all levels of youth and adult games to FIFA Junior World Cup, World Youth Cup, President’s Cup, numerous CONCA-CAF World Cup qualifying matches, the NASL Soccer Super Bowl games, NASL and MISL profes sional leagues.
Here is a person who has received many honors in his career. Most recently he was the recipient of the highest honor bestowed by the United States Soccer Federation: "The Eddie Pearson Award."
He also is a member of the California Soccer Hall of Fame and a recipient of California South's prestigious "John O. Best Award". As you will learn when reading this book, at times he also was the target of criticism! Toros reflects on these criticisms and accepts responsibility for some of them as the result of "My big mouth." He also defends himself against what he perceives as the unfairness of the attacks.
He leaves his readers not only to decide the question of fairness, but also to learn from his experiences by putting themselves into his shoes!
To see him in action is among the highlights of my soccer refereeing experiences. In this book Toros has presented a potpourri of reflections on his involvement to add flavor to the experience of playing, refereeing, and observing this beautiful game.
You can feel his compassion and commitment to the game. To provide a safe and exciting flavor to this wonderful sport. As you read through his experiences, thoughts, and suggestions you may better understand the dynamics and intricacies of the excitement on the field and among the participants, and you may receive some of the tasty tidbits that we can all appreciate when we are involved. You may not always agree with what he admonishes; however, you will certainly be challenged by what he says. For me he is a wonderful friend and colleague. For you he offers an experience in the flow of the game and some insights into the pulse of the referee.