“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.”
So said, Sherwin Trevor Johnson, Guyana’s newest entrant to the FIFA International List of referees for 2012.
Johnson, who originates from 33C, Number Five Village, West Coast Berbice is the second Berbician to become a FIFA referee.
The person with the distinction of being the first was the Harold “Harry” Clarke, who hailed from New Amsterdam.
Born March 6, 1979 to Victor Emanuel Johnson and Claudette Wendy Johnson, Sherwin grew up in an environment which was conducive to his quiet demeanour.
Both of his parents are pastors at the Victory Assembly of God Church, D’Edward, West Coast Berbice.
Last year, Sherwin moved a step in that direction when he received a Diploma in Christian Theology. The eldest of four children, Sherwin has two brothers and one sister.
He began his football career playing for Monnederlust Football Club of West Berbice as a defender representing them from U11 to the Senior Division.
He captained the team on numerous occasions winning many trophies in the process but after losing a quarter final game in the Namilco Cup competition against Western Tigers in 2007 he had a change of heart with regards to his involvement in the sport and decided to take up the offer of Ainsworth Ross who had been behind him to become a referee.
So in March 2008 when FIFA Trained Referee Instructor, Lawrence Griffith conducted a Beginners Referee Course at the Blairmont Community Centre, Johnson attended along with six other persons.
He was successful attaining a pass mark of 92 per cent.
Sherwin commenced his climb to the top, training daily, something which he enjoyed doing since he was young.
He is considered 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 a year.
Johnson attended the Number Five Primary School, Berbice High School, New Amsterdam Technical Institute (NATI) and the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA).
The budding pastor excelled academically obtaining five passes at the CXC examinations in Mathematics, English Language, 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 career as a referee, he has received tutoring from Virgil Watts and Ingram Johnson, who both reside in West Berbice, Roy Mc Arthur and Griffith.
He has been married to Golda Alexis Major for approximately seven years.
Johnson’s first exposure as a referee, internationally came last year in Suriname where he officiated in the Inter Guianas Club Championship involving Alpha United, two Suriname clubs and a club from French Guiana. He was the referee in two of the matches and served as assistant referee in one game. 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 officiated in the semi final game between Caledonia AIA and Milerock in what was considered the most important game in the tournament.
An employee of GUYSUCO attached to the Blairmont Estate, he is at present the acting Supervisor in the Field Lab but his substantive position is Field Foreman.
Johnson says he thoroughly enjoys his job.
His ambition is to become the first male Guyanese referee to officiate in a Senior World Cup match and is aiming for 2018 to fulfill that dream.
With his deportment, physical attributes and knowledge of the laws of the game, Johnson’s wishes can come true.
Johnson said he would like to thank the Guyana Football Federation for accepting the recommendation of the Guyana Football Referees Council 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 made himself to fulfill his many appointments and seminars, his wife for her understanding and encouragement and his parents and siblings who all encouraged him to work towards his goals.
He would also like to specially thank Griffith his first tutor who conducted the Beginners Course in such a professional manner, Mc Arthur, Watts, Ingram Johnson, Cleon Lindy, Floyd Lewis and all the other referees and his friends who were always there to encourage him.
