Referees Association now has added worries with the news that Class Two referee Sean Johnson will be lost for good at the end of the month.

The well-known official will be around for just three weeks more before he ends a contract with the Bermuda Government and takes up a new career in Swaziland, Africa, a country which borders South Africa and Mozambique.

"We are very disturbed to see someone with the talent of Sean leaving our ranks, there is no doubt that he was destined to progress even further in soccer as an official,'' said Aldwyn Savery, director of local referees.

He added: "Sean has not only been a good referee but he has been a good individual who has been a great role model for everybody. I would think each new referee should try to emulate a person like Sean who has been very supportive to me in my role as director of referees.'' Johnson got involved in refereeing shortly after coming here nearly 10 years ago, having been persuaded to give it a try after a former referee noticed him acting as a club linesman in the Commercial Division.

Shortly afterward Johnson attended a course supervised by the FIFA referee Abraham Klein of Israel and within a short period he was signed up as a trainee.

"It's been a while ago but I have enjoyed it immensely,'' said Johnson. "I became a third class referee after two years and then two years later was promoted to second class.'' He does not know much about Swaziland but has been told that they are "very passionate about soccer'' and says he is definitely looking forward to becoming involved as a referee when he gets settled.

Because of the acute shortage of referees in Bermuda a number of officials of lesser status, who are normally assigned to games in the Second and lower divisions, have consequently been used in the First Division on a regular basis.

"We have been forced to get them more involved because we only have four first class officials while there are normally five First Division games on Sunday,'' said Savery.

"And because of the fact that the four are not always available we have had to promote others. But while these officials have not gained the status of first class, they are nevertheless officials in whom we have extreme confidence to do well.'' The four first class referees are Rex Osborne, Esten Curtis, John Bento and Roddy Burchall. Osborne and Curtis are also FIFA-listed.

SEAN JOHNSON -- Leaving after over nine years in refereeing here.