NFF charges NRA to recruit referees below 14 years
The leadership of the Nigeria Referees Association (NRA), has been charged to give due consideration to age limit when recruiting referees so as to produce football arbiters who will last long on the international scene. The president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, gave the charge yesterday when the new executive committee […]
Ibrahim Musa Gusau
The leadership of the Nigeria Referees Association (NRA), has been charged to give due consideration to age limit when recruiting referees so as to produce football arbiters who will last long on the international scene.
The president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, gave the charge yesterday when the new executive committee of the NRA paid him a condolence visit at the NFF Secretariat, Abuja on the recent demise of the Head of NFF Refereeing Unit and NRA President, Hon. Sani Zubair.
Gusau reiterated that the executives must be ready to take a tough and determined stance on issues such as age limit, computer literacy, and academic qualifications.
“I am one of those who believe that no serious recruitment drive for referees should accept people who are above a certain age.
“Perhaps, we should even look at recruiting persons from the level of junior secondary schools. We will be wasting our time and the time of the system by recruiting persons above the age of 14. When will the referee rise to Grade 1, and then onwards to FIFA level?
“There is also the imperative for computer literacy. These days, referees must file reports extending to many pages. How will any computer illiterate be able to cope?
“The NFF is ready to provide support, but this is something that the executive council must take to the Congress of referees and pass as a resolution,” he said.