All individuals presently serving as match commissioners in Nigeria football will have to undertake an examination to retain their places, as the Nigeria Football Federation moves to ensure that only capable hands are left in the vocation.
This was disclosed on Wednesday by President of NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, while addressing the match commissioners on the wing of their annual seminar, at Merit House, Abuja.
“We want only the best hands to continue to function in the very important role of match commissioner in this country. Apart from the fact that this seminar will now be biennial, we are going to conduct an examination to pick the very best who will always make us proud.
“I am sure that you are all looking forward to becoming FIFA and CAF match commissioners. You can only get to that level if you are competent, capable and digitally-literate. You must also consistently enhance your capacity.”
Earlier, Chairman of the NFF Match Commissioners Committee, Alhaji Babagana Kalli, had praised Alhaji Gusau and the NFF Board for their support and encouragement of match commissioners, as well as remarkable improvements in the various leagues over the past two years.
“The Ibrahim Musa Gusau administration has accomplished a number of feats in the past two years, including the Super Eagles’ silver medals at the AFCON which remains the best performance by the team since we won the trophy in South Africa in 2013; the Super Falcons’ return to the Olympics after 16 years and; the qualifications of the Falconets and Flamingos for their various FIFA World Cup championships. There has also been resurgence in grassroots football in the States as well as schools’ football.
“However, we are most fulfilled with the improvements in officiating in the Leagues, and the new moves to rebrand our match commissioners for better performance.”
Kalli announced that the theme for this year’s seminar is ‘Match Commissioning and the Challenges of Match Reporting,’ with Sir Emmanuel Ochiagha, Dr. Sunday Obaseki and Mr. Danlami Alanana as resource persons.
Gusau later announced that match commissioners who pass the upcoming examination, as well as referees and referee assessors, will be presented with new kits being sponsored by Premium Trust Bank, official bank of the NFF and the National Teams.
Present as well at the occasion were NFF 1st Vice President, Chief Felix Anyansi-Agwu; NFF 2nd Vice President, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye; Member of NFF Executive Committee, Alh. Sharif Rabiu Inuwa; NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi; Member of NFF Executive Committee and Vice Chairman, Match Commissioners Committee, Alh. Ganiyu Majekodunmi; Members of the Committee, Barr. Paul Edeh, Alh. Sabo Abdullahi Dutse, Chief Kenneth Nwaomucha, Mr. Davidson Owumi and Alh. Idris Abdullahi Musa; Chairman of Abia State FA, Dr. Obioma Onyeaghala; Chairman of Bauchi State FA, Mr. Pascal Patrick; Chairman of Anambra State FA, Mr. Chikelue Iloenyosi and; NFF Director of Communications, Dr. Ademola Olajire.