Elite Nigerian Refs Back from UK Training

•Heap encomiums on NFF
The second batch of Nigerian referees to be sponsored on a
capacity building programme in the United Kingdom returned
to the country yesterday, full of appreciation to the Amaju
Pinnick –led board of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
The referees completed an eight-day training programme in
the United Kingdom and departed Heathrow Airport, London
for Lagos on Wednesday night aboard an ARIK Airline flight,
arriving Lagos yesterday morning.
Arriving in London on Monday, 26th January, the delegation
rode by bus to Sheffieldshire in the northern part of England
and was warmly received by staff of the Champneys Health
Resorts.
Made up of 18 referees and the Chairman of NFF Referees
Committee (Alhaji Yusuf Ahmed Fresh, who led the team),
Chairman of the Nigeria Referees Association (Alhaji Ahmed
Maude), Member of the NFF Executive Committee, Alhaji
Ibrahim Gusau and FIFA Technical Advisor (Refereeing) and
NFF Consultant on Refereeing, Mr. Linus Mba, the contingent
members found their home for the duration of the training a
very appropriate environment for the programme, away from
any kind of distraction. The facility is used by The FA, from
time to time, for their national teams, visiting international
teams as well as some local clubs.
Director of Confederation of African Football (CAF) Football
Hall of Fame, Mr. Tunde Adelakun, who organised the training
programme on behalf of the NFF, disclosed that he assembled
some of the best and experienced English referees’ instructors,
who belong to a
consortium of former referees who formed an outfit known as
‘You Are the Ref. International Ltd.’ with its head office in
Sheffield.
Among these were Jack Waugh (a director of the outfit),
Roger Dilkes (a former professional league referee), Keith
Hackett (a former general manager of the Professional League
Referees Management Company) and Mark Hasdey (a very
experienced English league referee who spent considerable
time in interaction sessions with the Nigerian referees).
Among the emphasis during the course were: “Management
and recognition of foul challenges; correct match incident
analysis; high and medium intensity physical fitness training
sessions and; correct match preparations”.
Apart from watching some matches on television, such as
Chelsea Vs Liverpool, for post match technical discussions, the
Nigerian referees were accorded recognition when they arrived
for the second leg of the Capital One Cup competition between
Sheffield United and Tottenham Hotspurs, and at the Premier
League match between the Stoke City and Queens Park
Rangers.
In the classrooms, the referees had sessions on nutrition as
well as a motivational talk by Mark Hasley.
The impression of the Nigerian referees who participated in
the eight-day programme is best captured in the communique
which they handed over to the accompanying members of the
NFF Referees Committee, which read thus:
“We the referees wish to appreciate President Amaju M.
Pinnick-led Board of the NFF, the NFF Referees Committee
and Mr. Tunde Adelakun for the opportunity given to us to
participate in this very well-packaged training programme
“We are happy because the rationale behind this is the
development and upliftment of refereeing and football in
Nigeria.
“The programme has physically and psychologically motivated
us by the quality of the training received from top class
instructors/assessors from the United Kingdom to fortify our
experiencies on the modern culture of football refereeing.
“Football refereeing worldwide is now demanding
professionalism in approach and we are looking forward that
the Nigeria Football Federation would initiate measures that
would facilitate, at the earliest possible time, the
professionalisation of football refereeing in Nigeria.
“Finally, we are soliciting that President Amaju Pinnick-led
Board sustains the momentum on the learning programmes
because learning is a continous process, and in so doing our
League will continue to improve.”
The referees who made the trip include: Abosede Momoh;
Uloma Nneka Nwogu; Hadiza Musa; Paul Umuago; Jelili
Ogunmuyiwa; Ibrahim Umar Fagge; Jeremiah Akure; Francis
Agbaegbu; Mohammed Ahmed Rufai; Ishiaku Ibrahim;
Iheanacho Chukwuemeka; Dele Atoun; Obieze Okiridu; Sunny
Atu; Sani Mohammed; Jibrin Isah and; Mohammed Aliyu Jibgi.