Continuous Training, Best Option For Nigerian Referees – Agent

A Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) and Federation of International Basketball Association (FIBA) licensed agent, Edwin Odogwu, has urged referees to regularly attend training workshops to update their knowledge.

Odogwu, who gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Lagos, said  that referees needed to keep themselves abreast with the latest trends in the sports they preside over.

“In terms of near perfect officiating, we are yet to get there; officiating is still poor and I must say that most of the Nigerian referees still need to be exposed; they need more training.

“They need to attend courses locally and internationally, to keep them abreast with the latest developments regarding current rules and regulations in FIFA and FIBA.

“If you are a referee you must make it a point of duty to continuously develop yourself; where you fail to do that you will find yourself lagging behind others in the discharge of your duties,’’ he said.

Odogwu also implored the country’s sports administrators and corporate entities to assist in the training of referees to enable them perform better.

“I encourage our administrators and corporate bodies to please send these referees for courses that will benefit them and also help develop sports.

“If we do this, we will be putting life into sports because sports is about the officials, the match commissioners and administrators; that is what makes sports a success,’’ the licensed agent said.