Benjamin Ekabatiem Odey New FIFA referee eager for baptism of fire
Names: Benjamin Ekabatiem Odey State of Origin: Cross River State LGA: Ikom Date of Birth: February 4, 1980. Educational background: OND accounting, Undergraduate Uni Abuja, The beginning I joined the FCT Referees Council in 1997 as a referee in training, RIT. I got my grade three in early 1998. I obtained grade 1 certificate in […]
Names: Benjamin Ekabatiem Odey
State of Origin: Cross River State
LGA: Ikom
Date of Birth: February 4, 1980.
Educational background: OND accounting, Undergraduate Uni Abuja,
The beginning
I joined the FCT Referees Council in 1997 as a referee in training, RIT. I got my grade three in early 1998. I obtained grade 1 certificate in 2003. Since then, I have been doing my best. When I got my grade 1 in 2003, I began to handle amateur league matches. In 2006, I was promoted to the then professional league, now national league. I officiated in the national league from 2006 to mid 2010 when I was elevated to the Nigeria Premier League in the mid-season. Since then I have been in the Premier League.
Appearances in the Nigeria Premier League
Last season I was promoted to the premier league in the middle of the season so I handled only four matches. But you must not forget that there are over 200 competent referees approved to handle premier league matches. This season, I have officiated two matches.
Toughest match
My toughest match will remain my first match in the Nigeria Premier League. It was the match between Zamfara United and Heartland FC Owerri. It was my first match in the Premier League and before the match, there were lots of comments. At a point I was almost tensed but when I remembered that that was not my first match as a football referee, I relaxed. When the match started, Heartland FC dominated relegation threatened Zamfara United, who were playing at home. The first half ended 0-0 but in the second half things changed and Zamfara United converted the only chance that came their way. They won the match 1-0. I can say it’s was my baptism of fire as a premier league referee.
Experience with soccer hooligans
I was attacked after a match involving El-kanemi Warriors and Plateau United in the professional league. I was molested and given a heavy punch by an irate fan and I collapsed. It was God that saved me that day. That remains the greatest threat to my life since I became a referee. I hope that it will not happen again but if it does, I will look at it as one of the hazards of the profession.
News from Zurich and tears of joy
Honestly when I was told that my name has come from Zurich as one of the referees to be badged, I wept profusely. I could not control myself. I shed tears of joy for over 15 minutes. The person who called me was really patient with me. He had to wait for me to finish crying before he continued. When I went home for Christmas, my tears of joy continued as I narrated to my dad how far I have gone in what started like a joke. For more than a week, I cried. I said God you are gracious.
Appreciation to God
I must show appreciation to God for making this a reality. I am feeling on top of the world because it is always the dream of anybody who finds himself in a career to get to the top. Now I am at the zenith of football refereeing and all I can do is to thank God. When I started, I never knew I would one day be a FIFA referee. I was doing it for pleasure. However, when I started officiating matches, people kept saying I would one day become a FIFA referee. Though I tried not to be pessimistic, I never took it seriously. To be honest I was not even sure of making it to the premier league not to talk of becoming a FIFA referee. All that concerned me was to enjoy myself while officiating matches.
Time to quit
I hope to remain a FIFA referee as long as my body can permit and operate within the 45 years stipulated by FIFA as retirement age. I still have age on my side and I will continue to train hard. It is not easy to remain on top.
Family of referees
I will encourage my children to be referees because I know what it has done for me. I won’t mind raising a family of referees. Through refereeing, I am now an international personality. I give God the glory.