by Mark Bassey
The Nigeria Football Federation has concluded all arrangements to send the best of Nigerian referees to the United Kingdom for a special refresher course.
According to the federation, the three week capacity building exercise, which begins in the first week of December, is to help Nigerian referees become better officials and also to enhance their opportunities of commanding greater recognition by international soccer bodies.
The President of NFF, Amaju Melvin Pinnick says the initiative is part of the vision of the new Executive Committee to increase the capacity of Nigerian referees.
He said, “The new NFF Board is determined to train and retrain our referees, as well as coaches and administrators with an eye on better output. There is no reason why Nigerian referees should not be holding their own globally. We have the men and women, and all they need do is enhance their knowledge of modern techniques of the profession.”
“In another six months, we will get another company to sponsor another batch of referees to another refresher course. It is a continuous exercise. But selection of
beneficiaries will be based on performance on the domestic scene.” Pinnick added.
In the first phase of the programme, the Chairman of the Nigeria Referees Association, Alhaji Ahmed Maude and Chairman of NFF Referees Committee, Alhaji Yusuf Ahmed will lead eleven referees to England.
The selected officials are Ferdinand Udoh, Abdullahi Shuaibu, Usman Isah, Samuel Pwadutakan, Orowole Tope, Egudia Efosa, Peter Ogwu, Paul Umuago, Musa Dung Davon, Olayinka Olayide and Ukah Ndubuisi.
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