Renowned referee's instructor and FIFA assessor, Peter Edibe has said the level of officiating during the much-awaited Bayelsa Governor's Football Tournament would be top notch.
Edibe made the assertion while speaking shortly after a two-day refresher course for referees in Bayelsa State.
The referee's instructor, who was one of the resource persons in the training programme, said he was certain the beneficiaries of the two-day intensive course would bring the knowledge gained during the programme to bear on their handling of matches during the Governor's Football Tournament, also known as the Prosperity Cup.
Edibe, who noted that the tournament would be a good ground for the referees to showcase their skills said, "I am confident that the referees would impact their knowledge in the competition when the tournament commences at the various centres".
The highly respected referee's instructor said he was happy to see kids within the age of eight to 12 years participating in the training programme, pointing out that the future of the state referees is bright due to the massive interest shown by the kids.
Another resource person, Chukwudi Chukwujekwu, who is a CAF Instructor, Member NFF Referees Committee and Head, Panel of Instructors of Nigeria Referees, said the refresher course for the referees would go a long way in improving officiating during the tournament in line with global best practices.
Describing the referees training exercise as a good one, Chukwujekwu commended the organizers of the Prosperity Cup for impacting the referees in the state, emphasizing that the gesture is worthy of emulation by other states in the country.
He said the training, which is meant to familiarise the referees with modern officiating rules, would enhance the participants’ confidence while handling matches.
Also, the Chairman, Nigeria Referees Council, Bayelsa State chapter, Ebi Nwankwe, applauded the organisers of the training programme, stressing that with the rich content of the exercise, referees in the state would perform better while officiating matches.
Two referees, Richman Otiti and Rachel Onyekwere, in separate interviews said the refresher course has exposed them to the new Laws of the Game.
The duo equally appreciated the organizers of the tournament for taking steps to equip them with the latest laws, adding that they would ensure that they compete favourably with their counterparts anywhere in the world.
Over 150 referees based in Bayelsa State participated in the refresher course, designed to equip them with modern officiating techniques, ahead of the commencement of the Bayelsa Governor's Football Tournament, unarguably Nigeria's biggest grassroots football competition.
The organisers of the Prosperity Cup packaged the exercise in collaboration with the Nigeria Referees Association (NRA), Bayelsa State Referees Council, Bayelsa State Football Association and the state Ministry of Sports Development.
The two day refresher course for football referees in the state had two parts, theory and practical, with the programme climaxing with the practical session taking place at the Samson Siasia Stadium.
The refresher course is in fulfilment of a pledge by the organisers of the Prosperity Cup to update the knowledge and skills of football referees and coaches in the state.
Recall that while speaking during the conduct of the draw for the soccer fiesta, the Director General of the tournament, Mr Ono Akpe had given assurance that everything would be done to ensure top notch officiating during the competition.
