The 28-year-old, who aims to take up refereeing as his career, has completed the AFC Project Future Course.[break] He is a first batch referee of the two-year course conducted by Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in 2007. However, he still has to wait for some time before he obtains the batch of FIFA referee.
Pandey has already received an offer from the USA before being appointed a FIFA referee.
He has been invited to assume the role of a referee in the 32nd Dallas Cup Football Tournament to be held from April 17 to 24 next year. Pandey will be the first Nepali to travel to the USA as a referee. He in one of the three Asian referees called for the tournament to be held in Dallas.
Pandey has taken this opportunity as a turning point in his career. “I have taken this job as my career. This is a great opportunity for me,” he said.
The organizers of the Dallas Cup invited Pandey under the recommendation of George Cumming, who was the manager of the AFC Project Future Course. Pandey is of the opinion that Cumming must have recommended his name after being impressed with his performance during the course.
Pandey, who once played football along with national striker Jumanu Rai in Sarlahi, moved toward refereeing in 2004. He decided to take up refereeing as his career after joining a refereeing course held by the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) in 2004.
“It is not necessary for all to play football. The role of a referee is also vital in the game,” he said. “The number of referees in Nepal is extremely low. That´s also a reason why I was interested in this field,” he added.
Pandey is looked upon with high expectations as a referee of the new generation. He debuted as a referee in the last edition of the national league of Nepal.
He is well aware that the job of a referee is unrewarding but he gets delighted to fulfill his responsibilities fairly. “We have to be more careful about our role rather than who are playing,” he said.
His next aim is to make his way to the Elite Panel of AFC referees. “We get selected in the elite panel on the basis of our performance. I will try to the best of my abilities,” he said.
Pandey, who holds a B Ed degree, is of the view that education is extremely important in refereeing as it is in other fields.
“Education is very essential to compete in the international level,” he shared his experience.
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