The closing ceremony of the Special Training Program, the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, organized for members of the Nigeria Referees Association, NRA, in the premier league cadre, has afforded the football house chance to open up on certain critical issues affecting refereeing in the country.
The General Secretary of the NFF, Dr. Sanusi Mohammed, who represented the President, Mr Amaju Melvin Pinnick, disclosed that the reported cases of violence against referees in the various categories of the domestic leagues have become a source of concern to the Federation.
According to him while speaking at the closing ceremony event held at Chida Hotels, Abuja, the NFF has been inundated with calls from NRA leadership over the persistent incidents of assault on referees at match venues.
The General Secretary regretted the incidents which he said the NFF frowned at insisting that they are not relaxing on finding solutions to this sour aspect of Nigerian football hindering good officiating.
On the vexatious issue of nonpayment of match Indemnities to referees engaged in the NPFL, Dr Sanusi Mohammed, in the presence of the Chief Operating Officer, COO, of the NPFL, Salisu Abubakar, revealed that the federation has intervened on the matter and has hitherto made a reach out to the organizers of the Nigeria Professional premier league to pay Indemnities to the referees involved.
Dr. Sanusi Mohammed was of the view that a Nigeria referee has the capacity to handle a world cup match considering the numerous potentials abound in the country’s list of international referees.
He said that the federation agreed to cater for the capacity-building training program as part of the process to produce top-notch referees worthy to officiate a world cup game.
The NFF scribe expressed happiness on the efforts of the NRA leadership joining the federation to take Nigeria football to the next level.
Earlier, NFF Board Member and Chairman of the Referees Committee, Alhaji Rabiu Inuwa Alhan was delighted at the performances of referees stating that the Federation is proud to associate with the NRA, hence the sponsorship of such training programs.
Alhaji Rabiu Inuwa Alhan who is also the Chairman of the Kano state football association said that the NFF will expect more scintillating displays from the referees on the field of play at the end of the course.
NRA President, Otunba Tade Azeez in his speech at the event opined that referees in Nigeria are turbo-charged to complement the efforts of the Federation at ensuring a fair and firm officiating.
The number one referee in Nigeria while thanking the Federation for this type of training program, he said is the first of its kind for several years of NRA existence, assured that the gains of the training shall be properly utilized by his members to help advance the course of Refereeing and football in the country.
The closing ceremony for the course scheduled to end on Wednesday where the participants will undertake a comprehensive test on the knowledge of the Laws of Game, saw members of the Referees Committee, the NFF/NRA technical and physical fitness Instructors, as well as NRA Exco members present for the event.
The program which started last week Monday saw the premier league referees divided into two groups for Medical and Physical Fitness Tests, fieldwork and classroom lectures.
