Be FIFA, CAF compliant, NFF tells referees

.As President Tade harps on education

By Our Reporter 

REFEREES in Nigeria have been asked to ensure they have the mental, physical and health qualities expected by the international bodies for one to be qualified to be made a FIFA match official.

 

Executive Committee board member and Chairman of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Referees Committee, Alhaji Rabiu Inuwa Ahlan, gave the advice during the opening session of the Northern zone leg of the pre season fitness test for Nigeria National League (NNL), Women and Nationwide League One (NLO) referees.

 

Alhaji Rabiu Inuwa who represented the president of the NFF and declared the event opened said that there are required standards FIFA and CAF expect from referees which arbiters in the country are expected to imbibe.

 

According to him, this message became necessary considering that referees of the NNL, NLO, and Women remain the foundation of refereeing.

 

“At this stage, you are expected to be aware of what the international bodies require in terms of medical, fitness and mental abilities to be able to fit into the system. Your are still young to learn and adapt to the new system to excel. This is your time because you are the future of Nigeria Referees."

 

Alhan revealed that only referees who possess these qualities shall be considered by the NFF Referees Committee for consideration and promotion to higher levels and officiating.

 

In his earlier address at the opening session, the NRA president, Otunba Tade Azeez enjoined the referees to get average education needed to appreciate the development in modern refereeing.

 

"The system is improving and going technological, which demands development in the educational capacity of the referees. Technical Trainings are now virtual, which means we must be proficient in IT and internet means of learning,” Tade said.

 

He said that the new system may leave behind any referee who negates the trending methods of training in the new dispensation.

 

At the opening session were NRA National Exco members and NFF Referees Committee members including the Head of NFF Refereeing Unit who is also NRA Deputy President, Hon Sani Zubairu FIFA rtd, Dave Egho, Mazi Linus Mbah, Bello Abubakar Sokoto, Olori Jumoke Adebisi Odeniran and Dr. Anirou Shantali.