NFF tasks NPFL Referees’ Assessors on transparency, renewed dedication

By Wale Mustapha

The leadership of Nigeria Football Federation, NFF has urged assessors of football referees to be more dedicated and transparent in carrying out their duties in the upcoming leagues in the country.

General Secretary of the Federation, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi made the call on Saturday during the three day refresher workshop for football referee assessors held at the V.I.P Lounge of MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja.

Dr. Sanusi who congratulated participants for being part of the event appealed to them to live up to the billing as their shortcomings would have a telling effect on the league standard and quality.

“The league management has done very well in the repositioning of Nigeria Football League, they have done very well under Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye to also improve on your allowances and therefore we expect that you as Assessors will do everything humanly possible to make sure that your match officials do what is right,” Sanusi started.

“We decided that they should take time to educate and test you so that at the end of the day we will have people who we can rely on when taking decisions.

“Where match officials after all this, refuse to do what is right, we expect that you will report accordingly. And where you refuse to do what is expected of you, believe you me, we will not hesitate to sanction you.

“When we take part to ensure the league is organized the way it is supposed to be, definitely we will be bringing the better way and manner people should participate, and attracting interests of sponsors and more funds will come into our league and we must perform our own part for it to reach that standard. With this, I am congratulating you.”

Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye who is the Second Vice President of the NFF admonished the Referees’ Assessors on the the importance of standard officiating for Nigeria Premier Football League, which will attract higher grade in Africa and sponsorship of the league that will consequently bring more fund to the system.

“The massage of the general secretary was quite elaborate and straight to the point,” Elegbeleye said.

“I can only add that we on our own part, we should fulfill our roles as usual.”

The new NPFL season will kickoff on September 9, 2023, with Shooting Stars facing Plateau United in Ibadan.