THE Fiji Football Association is mourning the loss of their development officer Mohammed Rafiq who passed away yesterday.
Rafiq was attending the C Licence course at the national soccer academy in Ba when he collapsed after suffering a heart attack.
FFA president Rajesh Patel said Rafiq had just completed his assessment before he collapsed.
"It is really unfortunate to lose a person like Rafiq," Patel said.
"He was with Fiji FA for a long time. Rafiq was really hard working. We are sad to lose him. Our sympathy and prayers go out to the family."
Rafiq, a former Labasa soccer coach, was the "Just Play" program officer in the Southern Division.
The C Licence coaching course was on the verge of completion when the incident happened.
Fiji FA technical director Farouk Janeman said the C Licence course was the first to be held in Fiji.
"The C License course is the highest level of coaching course to be held here," Janeman said.
"Didier Chambaron who is the Oceania Football Confederation assistant technical director conducted the course. This course is in line with FIFA's new format and program. There were 22 participants. The coaching level courses start from the D License, D1 License and D2 License."
Imdad Ali, Yogendra Dutt, Kamal Swamy and Usenio Logaivou were some of the participants.