Oyo Referee Academy Will Soon Give Us World Cup Referee - Imiere

FIFA/CAF Referee instructor, Emmanuel Imiere has expressed optimism that we will soon see many Nigerian referees officiating at the CAF and FIFA organized matches.

Imiere who was the last Nigerian referee to officiate at AFCON when he took charge of the Group C game between Zambia and Guinea at Alexandria in the 2006 edition held in Egypt was part of instructors at the ongoing 2-day workshop organized for Oyo State Football Referees Academy at Lekan Salami Stadium Adamasingba Ibadan.

He explained that the trend of football refereeing has changed because the ball is now faster, the players are younger while the pace is quicker, so there is need for younger referees who can really cope with the pace of the game.

Imiere who described the referee academy which was the initiatives of Hon. Babatunde Olaniyan the Deputy Speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly as a step in a right direction while advocating that what the Nigerian Referee Association (NRA) needed most now are younger blood in order to be relevant globally in the game.

“I’m so happy that Oyo State has blaze the trail by coming up with this idea of grooming this kids through a Referee Academy, I can assure you that by 5-6 years these young referees would be there at the top to officiate top matches in CAF and FIFA organized competitions”.

Also speaking at the seminar, the Secretary General of NRA Moroof Oluwa commended Olaiyan, the sponsor and initiator of the referee academy saying what he came to witness in Ibadan was what they have been clamoring for at the NRA.

“Sometime 4-5 years ago referee academy was launched in Abuja, during Sani Lulu administration at Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and they asked all the state Association to queue into the idea, I’m happy today that Oyo State that is a pace setter has set the pace again”, Oluwa said.

A retired FIFA referee, Sareh Jumoke Adebisi, who doubles as the Public Relation Secretary of NRA was also among the instructors that delivered lectures at the seminar that is expected to come to a close on Saturday 4th with practical demonstrations by the participants.

Akanbi Agiri