By our Reporter
The one-day capacity building seminar for Bayelsa referees organized by the LOC of Nigeria’s biggest grassroots football spectacle, the Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament, christened the Prosperity Cup, has come to an end.
The seminar which was in partnership with the Bayelsa State Football Association held at the NUJ Press Center with over one hundred referees in attendance, with certified FIFA and CAF referees/instructors, Mr Chukwujekwu Chukwudi and Mrs. Felicia Chibuogu Okwugba as resource persons.
Director General of the Prosperity Cup, Mr. Akpe in an address of welcome, said the essence of the program was to equip the referees with modern techniques and be abreast with the latest rules of the game, stating that this edition would surpass previous editions.
Mr. Akpe who highlighted the importance of referees in the tournament, noted that the programme was in line with the philosophy of the Prosperity Government as led by the governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri to ensure and enhance the capacity, knowledge and skills of citizens of the state. He added that the training they would receive, would continue to be celebrated globally, assuring the various participating teams that Season 6 of the tournament would be the best so far and still remain the most outstanding grassroots football spectacle in the country.
He lauded the governor for giving premium attention to the development of sports in the last four years which has seen many youths taken off the streets and becoming agents of prosperity.
Chairman of the State Football Association, Barr. Poubeni Ogun, in a remark opined that the improved officiating in the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL can be attributed to the the referees as evident in the quality of the resource persons who have done much to Nigerian football and believed strongly this would translate to the Prosperity Cup.
Tournament Director and host, Mr. Perela Aboroson, urged all the referees who have been impacted with new knowledge to be professional in the discharge of their duties.
In special goodwill messages, a retired referee and Permanent Secretary Ministry of Special Projects, Chief Patimidi Tukuru and the President Nigeria Football Referees Association, Mr Sani Zubair represented by the Deputy President Mr.Kelechi Mejuobi, thanked the LOC of the Prosperity Cup for considering it necessary to organize a refresher course for the referees.
The program they enthused is a landmark event in the history of the Nigeria Football Referees Association and that instructors invited for the program were the best in the country, stressing that the workshop was the best thing that has happened to the tournament.
In like manner the resource persons, FIFA and CAF certified instructors, Mr. Chukwujekwu Chukwudi and Mrs. Felicia Chibuogu Okwugba said for a referee to have a good game, the person must be knowledgeable with the laws of the game.
They explained that personality, knowledge of the game, concentration and positioning are the four major things that enable referees not to make mistakes during matches, pointing out that once you possess those four qualities highlighted, referees would have perfect games.
Some of the referees, Ebi Nwankwe, Rachel Onyekwere, Ebiere Amgbare and Eniz Gwegwe in an interview applauded the organizers of the program and thanked the resource persons for setting the bar high for them to attain lofty heights in their duties, adding that the seminar has impacted hugely in their careers.
At the end of the seminar the referees were given certificates of participation. No doubt Prosperity Cup 2024 has the potential of breaking new bounds and producing the best tournament to date.
