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Welcome to Spotlight. I'm Adam Navis.
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And I'm Liz Waid. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
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This June, the World Cup 2010 will be held in South Africa. It will be historic. It is the first time an African country has held the World Cup of football.
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Teams will try to prove that they are the best in the world. Players will raise their levels of play. People will cheer for their country's team. The teams that lose will feel shame. The team that wins will get glory. But there is one group at the World Cup that no one likes: the referees. These people make sure the players follow the rules of the game.
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Being a football referee is difficult. They have to decide things quickly. Often, players and coaches argue with them. People watching the game shout at them. Referees must work strange hours. They must be physically strong. They do not become famous or rich like players. So why would anyone want to be a referee? Eddy Maillet has a good answer to that question.
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Today's Spotlight is on Eddy Maillet. Eddy Maillet is one of the most experienced football referees in the world. He does this difficult job because he loves football. And his faith in God gives him strength. It helps him deal with the difficult parts of his job.
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Eddy Maillet is from Seychelles. The nation of Seychelles is a series of 115 islands. They are off the east coast of Africa. The population of Seychelles is around 85,000 people.
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Though Maillet is from a small country, he is not frightened by the large crowds at football games. Maillet has been an international referee since 2001. He has refereed at two U-17 World Cup matches. He refereed three CAF Africa Cup of Nations, and the 2007 Asian Cup. And now he prepares for the 2010 World Cup.
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At a football game, some people like one team. Other people like the other team. But everyone hates the referee. This hatred can grow and grow. Eddy Maillet knows all about this. There is even a webpage on Facebook called, "I Hate Eddy Maillet." But Maillet works in these conditions because he likes the challenge. Maillet explained to reporter Adrian Barnard:
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"When I played football, I used to get many red cards. So when I stopped playing I decided to go into refereeing. So I could understand the rules more. I thought about going into coaching. But I thought that if I was going to have any success, it was going to depend on my players. On the effort they put in. As a referee it is an individual effort. So I decided to put in my individual effort because I will push to the limit. I knew I could go far."
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A webpage called "I Hate Eddy Maillet" is one thing. But football games can be dangerous for a referee. Sometimes they need police to guard them. Sometimes people support their football teams to the point of violence. In 2001, in the country of Ghana, 125 people died when a football game got out of control. During World Cup games, the situation can get even more dangerous. Simon Haydon is a writer for the Guardian newspaper. He explains:
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"The referees at the World Cup will be all alone. People watching on television get to see slow motion from many different television cameras. They will see any mistakes. At other World Cups, people have made death threats at referees who made decisions against their teams. Some referees have even quit. The World Cup is the biggest test a referee will ever face, both in his job and life."
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But Maillet is not going to quit. He knows that being a referee is a difficult job. But he loves the game. And he is a Christian. He gets strength from his faith in God. He says:
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"I love the game. I want to give something back to football. I was a player before and now I am a referee. I love it so much when I am on the field of play. I am a strong believer in God. I always pray and ask God to give me strength. Refereeing has given me a lot. I have travelled all over the world. I am not rich in terms of money, but I am rich in terms of experience. I have visited many different countries, seen different cultures, and eaten different foods."
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Some people may think it is strange for someone to talk about faith like this. Many people will pray that their team wins the game. But Maillet does not pray this way. He recognizes that his success is gift from God. He knows that the World Cup is important to many people. He knows how important his job is. He explains the place of prayer when he is refereeing:
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"My faith is very important. I am from a very small country with very few people. To be able to reach this level of play; I think it is a miracle. When I go out on the field of play for a big, big game, I ask myself how I can referee these games. I feel that my faith is very helpful for my refereeing. I ask God to help me in decision making. Refereeing is all about decision making, to be quick and to make good decisions."
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In an interview with Adrian Barnard, Maillet explained a bit more about the importance of prayer in his work,
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"I pray before every match, every game, even if it is a small game. It is not a long prayer, but I always ask God to help me. I am a strong believer. I think you need his support, you need his strength. I think that with God, there is nothing that is impossible. If you believe, if you love him, everything is possible."
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