The usual brouhaha which eclipses the announcement of match officials for any FIFA organised tournament without a mention of any Referee from Nigeria again reared up its head within the week when the world soccer governing body made public 36 umpires to officiate at 2018 World Cup with no one from the most populous African Nation.
As expected, many Stakeholders including media Practitioners took to social media and conventional media outfits to hit out on those responsible for administering football in the country.
First to receive the bashing was the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), followed by the Nigeria Referees Association (NRA). Perhaps, the League Management Company was not left out of the blame galore.
Members of the public that lashed out at Men inside glasshouse had or still have their reasons. While some were of the opinion that Nigerian Referees have displayed compromise and steadily succumb to all manner of inducement, others are of the view that their predicament doesn’t cut across board in terms of how they are rated.
Whichever way anyone looks at it, the simple but sure fact remains that the approach Nigerian Referees implore in the discharge of their duties can’t be separated from the overall malaise our immediate society has found itself.
Think of the recruitment process and of course the quality of training and re-training of an average Referee in Nigeria and you will rightly agree that nothing would ever salvage the ugly trend except concerted effort geared towards making radical changes is applied.
When the current administration of NFF led by Amaju Melvin Pinnick assumed office more than three years ago, their major trust appeared to be on harnessing and developing Human resources especially as it concerns exposing match officials at various cadre including match Assessors, Readers and indeed the main actors, Referees.
Then, these actors that determine the quality of round-leather game which virtually every Nigerian has passion for, were one after the other routed outside Nigeria to Europe for days of training tour. As at the last count, about 50 of them benefitted from the refresher programme. At some point in the country’s apex league, the Nigeria Professional Football league (NPFL) began experiencing some form of soothing relief as long as officiating was concerned. Not too long, the somewhat praises began to dwindle.
Though, apart from the initiative of a re-training panacea, the immediate-past leadership of Referees Committee of NFF led by Ahmed Yusuf Fresh still continued with the regular fitness test and seminar exercise. In recent times, there have been repeated postponements of similar course for referees carrying league functions. No one has stood to categorically explain what might have gone soar with a new football season underway.
On the other hand, administrators that govern the affairs of various club sides have never helped proceedings in any possible way both at the top and least level. The pressure occasioned by their win-at-all cause mentality has overtime worsened situation. Daily or at most weekly, they display cash before the ‘respected’ Nigerian Referees as a form of enticement. Those with strong will to resist these overtures pay with their dear lives.
While the blame hits the main actors (Referees) from time to time, no one remembers the ‘supreme’ sacrifice they offer in the areas of travelling over 500 kilometres to officiate some matches. Again, none equally thinks of how they literarily have to beg for their allowances popularly referred to as indemnities before or after matches.
A typical Referee in Nigeria is always expected to perform magic even when a league body such as the Nigeria National League do owe them months of remuneration. I don’t encourage dismal behaviour in any guise but how you do anticipate an effective performance from someone who is discouraged in one way or the other?
Despite these challenges staring them on the face, I’m meant to understand that a good number of qualified Nigerian soccer Arbiters have attended virtually all CAF and FIFA organised qualifiers or full blown competition –AFCON, Club championships, Under-17 and 20 tournaments at the male and female category. That is not to say that all Nigerian Referees have turned saints
Before I forget, have Men occupying the glasshouse understood that just as every other thing around the world goes digital, ‘ordinary’ Video Assistant Referee (VAR) equipment which has been accepted by CAF and will be used at forthcoming CHAN, will soon become a significant prerequisite for Nigerian Referees to occupy international space?
The last time I checked, only one Referee from Nigeria, Promise Uwaeme has mastered the use of this technology and has been invited to some CAF organised events. I understand he was supposed to feature at 2018 CHAN but the inability of authorities to support his quest denied him the slot.
Honour well deserved for Fresh, Chukwumerije, Dilichukwu, Talle
About 48 hours ago, the newly appointed Technical Committee chairman of NFF, Alhaji Ahmed Yusuf Fresh added another feather to the ones he already had after revered members of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), FCT chapter honoured him as an outstanding administrator of the year.
Also, technical Director and executive board member of the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF), Engr. Chika Chukwumerije, Director, FCT Sports council, Chief Mrs Dilichukwu Onyedinma, FCT Football association chairman, Alhaji Musa Talle and former President of NFF, Alhaji Lulu Abdullahi were deservedly honoured. While Chukwumerije emerged as grassroots promoter of the year, Onyedinma, Talle and Lulu picked sports personality, administrator and Developer of year 2017.
No doubt, Fresh who is also the chairman Niger state Football association has kept pace with vigorous grassroots football development. He personally discovers, trains and supports hidden talents at the hinterland with his hard-earned resources. Between 2016 and 2017 alone, more than 500 young and upcoming footballers in virtually parts of the country have drank from his well of philanthropy anchored on avowed desire and passion to serve selflessly.
Virtually, everyone who has come in contact with him especially within the soccer fraternity has a reason to smile. As the chairman NFF’s Referee and match commissioners’ appointment committee, his grassroots candour stood him out with series of innovative programmes he championed and successfully executed.
One thing that surprises many is that despite his continued non-profit football venture and wide popularity, he has remained calm and resolved not to seek for higher ‘politically induced’ position. His only paramount interest has been how to make impact and more impact. No wonder, Confederation of African Football (CAF) has always found his services as a ‘sine-qua-non.”
Of all the time I tried to find out from him why he has remained committed to the development of football in Nigeria and beyond, his simple response has been “I’m driven by passion to serve humanity.”
