Two Decades on the Line

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

For more than twenty years, Ali Makki has watched volleyball evolve from the sidelines — not as a player, but as the man entrusted to call it fair. Now, that journey has taken him to Japan, where the Bahraini international referee is officiating at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya.

Makki's path began modestly in 2004, calling local matches and slowly sharpening his instincts for the game. It would take more than a decade of steady work before he reached a turning point: in 2016, he completed his international refereeing studies in Qatar, followed by Bahrain's own certification requirements in 2018. Each step, he says, demanded more than rulebook knowledge — it demanded discipline.

“The international level was not

merely about obtaining a classification or

certificate. It was a greater responsibility

because an international referee represents

his country in external competitions and

must demonstrate a high level of

commitment, discipline and

technical competence.”

                                     - Ali Makki

"A successful referee does not depend only on knowledge of the laws of the game," Makki explains. Composure under pressure, split-second judgment and self-belief matter just as much, he says, especially when the game itself keeps changing — tactically, technically, and through new refereeing technology.

Officiating internationally, Makki notes, carries a weight beyond personal achievement. Every call made abroad reflects on the country he represents, a responsibility he has carried through numerous regional, Arab and Asian tournaments over the years.

His presence in Nagoya, extended through an invitation from the Asian Volleyball Confederation, adds another chapter to that record — and reinforces Bahrain's growing footprint in the sport, not just on the court but in the officials who keep its games running.

From a local gymnasium in 2004 to center stage at Asia's largest multi-sport event, Makki's career stands as quiet proof that the men in stripes have stories worth telling too.