Sherwin Johnson: Guyana latest FIFA Referee

Jan 04, 2012 Sports

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“When I was told that I was being nominated to the FIFA Panel as a FIFA

Referee for the 2012 season, I was elated, excited and overwhelmed with joy.” These were the words of Sherwin Trevor Johnson, Guyana’s newest entrant to the FIFA International List of Referees for 2012.
Johnson who originates from 33C #5 Village, West Coast Berbice is the second Berbician to become a FIFA Referee, the first being the late Harold “Harry” Clarke who hailed from New Amsterdam, East Berbice.
Born on March 6th, 1979 to Victor Emanuel Johnson and Claudette Wendy Johnson, Sherwin grew up in an environment which was conducive to his quiet demeanor. Both of his parents are Pastors at the Victory Assembly of God Church, D’Edward, West Coast Berbice and only as recently as last year Sherwin received a Diploma in Christian Theology. He has two (2) brothers and one (1) sister with him being the eldest.
He began his football career playing for Monedderlust Football Club of West Berbice as a defender representing them from Under-11 to the Senior levels. He captained the team on numerous occasions winning many trophies in the process.
After losing a quarterfinal game in the Namilco Cup against Western Tigers in 2007 he had a change of heart with regards to his involvement in Football. He decided to take up the offer of Ainsworth Ross who had encouraged him to become a Referee.
This was prompted due to the indiscipline behavior of his club members after they lost that game and the fact that there were few qualified referees in Berbice, he felt he could have made a difference with implementing some amount of discipline on the field.
So in March 2008 when FIFA Trained Referee Instructor, Lawrence Griffith conducted a Beginners Course at the Blairmont Community Center, he attended along with six (6) other persons and was successful attaining a pass mark of 92%.
Sherwin commenced his climb to the top, training daily, something which he enjoyed doing since he was young. He is considered as one of the fittest Referees in Guyana always running the maximum amount of laps at the Fitness Tests conducted by the Guyana Football Referees Council three or four times annually.
He attended the #5 Primary School, Berbice High School, New Amsterdam Technical Institute (NATI) and the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA).
Married to Golda Alexis Major for 7 years, this budding Pastor excelled academically, obtaining five (5) passes at the CXC in Mathematics, English, Accounts Technical Drawing and Agriculture Science. He also received a Certificate in Radio & Electronics – Service & Repairs while attending NATI and a Diploma in Agriculture while attending GSA.
During his Referee career he was tutored by Virgil Watts and Ingram Johnson who both reside in West Berbice; Roy Mc Arthur and Lawrence ‘Sparrow’ Griffith.
His first exposure as a Referee Internationally was last year in French Guiana where he officiated in the Inter Guiana’s Club Championship involving Alpha United, two (2) French Guiana Clubs and a club from Suriname, he officiated in two (2) games and was Assistant Referee in another. He was selected to Referee the GT&T Fast Ball Final last year involving Pele and Western Tigers.
In the 2010/11 Kashif & Shanghai Final he was the Fourth Official and in the 2011/12 Tournament he Refereed the semi-final game involving Caledonia AIA and Milerock in what was considered the most important game of the tournament. In November 2011 he officiated in his first final in Berbice.
On September 29, 2004 he became an employee of Blairmont Estate, GUYSUCO working his way up the ladder and at present a Supervisor (ag) in the Field Lab but his substantive position is Field Foreman and he thoroughly enjoys his job.
His ambition is to become the first male Guyanese Referee to officiate in a Senior World Cup and is aiming for 2018 to fulfill this dream. With his deportment, physical attributes and knowledge of the Laws of the Game his wishes can become a reality.
He would like to thank the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) for accepting the recommendation of the Guyana Football Referees Council (GFRC) to nominate him to the 2012 list. He also would like to thank his employers (GUYSUCO) for giving him the necessary time off so he could have fulfilled his many appointments and attend seminars; his loving wife for her understanding and encouragement; his parents and siblings who all encouraged him to work towards his goals.
Thanks must also go out to Lawrence Griffith his first tutor who conducted the Beginners Course in such a Professional manner that he grasped it willingly on that first attempt; Roy Mc Arthur, Virgil Watts, Ingram Johnson, Cleon Lindy, Floyd Lewis and all those other Referees and friends who were always there to gave him words of encouragement.

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