The President, Nigeria Referee Association (NRA) Alh. Tade Azeez has described the Oyo State Football Referee Academy as a catalyst for a better future for Nigerian Referee family while urging the young referees in-training to effectively combine the hobby with their academics.
This submission was made in Ibadan when the NRA boss was declaring open, the 3-Day workshop organized by Oyo State Football Referees’ Academy for about 100 participants comprising of pupils from Oyo State, Ondo State, Edo State and Kwara State at Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba Ibadan over the weekend.
The seminar according to the initiator of the academy, Hon. Babatunde Olaniyan popularly known as Akoro, was the fourth in the series the annual programmes of the Soccer Referee School, and it’s to prepare the 12 young referees that will be participating in the grade one NRA exams slated for 17th of this month.
“If these 12 kids of ours that would take the grade 1 exams pass the examination, they will become the youngest in the country to qualify to take up the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) matches, as most of them are still in secondary and tertiary institutions”, Akoro noted.
Among the resource persons taking the young referees in different paper titles are Sunday Ogwu Okayi, a FIFA/CAF instructor who was seconded from Nigeria Football Federations’ technical department, Mohammed Adebayo Aminu also a FIFA/CAF instructor, Dr. Dele Oladipo from University of Ibadan, Mrs. Sareh Jumoke Adebisi, NRA, acting National Training Officer.
Also speaking, the secretary of the academy, Oladeni Michael thanked the Commissioner for Youths and Sports Oyo State, Barr. Yomi Oke, the acting General Manager, Oyo State Sports Council, Mr. Gboyega Makinde for the various roles they played in making the event a success, while he also appreciated Seedvest Micro Finance for financial support and Infinity Snacks and beverages that provided meals for the kids.
Packaged by Olanrewaju Agiri
