Sports
NRA Boss Harps On Professional Referees
The Deputy President,
Nigeria Referees’ Association (NRA), Tade Azeez, said in Lagos that Nigeria lacked professional referees because the job was not lucrative.
Azeez told newsmen that most referees were doing it as a hobby, while they engaged in other professions.
“We still have no professional referees in the country and it is because it is yet to be lucrative as a profession.
“So, most of us take it as a hobby, but it does not hinder us from delivering professional officiating,” he said.
Azeez said that he was impressed with the attitude of referees thus far in the leagues in the country, in spite of the challenges of the job.
“We have always told our referees that there is no one above the law; so, they have to officiate fairly to both teams.
“And we engage them often in training and seminars that will boost their knowledge of the sport,” Azeez said.
He appealed to corporate organisations to look into encouraging referees, through rewards and sponsorship.
Iwobi spoke to Tidesports source ahead of Nigeria’s crunch playoff semi-final against Gabon on Thursday, November 13, in Rabat, Morocco.
The 28-year-old was reacting to Nigeria’s shaky World Cup qualifying campaign that saw the Eagles finish second in Group C behind South Africa’s Bafana Bafana.
“We’ve managed to rescue ourselves from the dead,” Iwobi told Tidesports source.
We know we have the players and the abilities to compete against any other country in the world.”
The Fulham star pointed to Nigeria’s star power, highlighting African Footballer of the Year winners Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen as proof of the squad’s quality.
“We have last year’s African best player (Ademola Lookman), the year before that (Victor Osimhen),” he said.
“It’ll be a shame if we don’t make it, but we have a lot of confidence. We just have to prove it to ourselves.”
Nigeria’s path to the United States, Canada and Mexico has been turbulent, with two coaches departing during the early stages of qualifying before Éric Chelle steadied the ship to steer the Super Eagles into November’s CAF playoffs.
Four nations from the continent – Nigeria, Cameroon, DR Congo and Gabon – will vie for a solitary spot to compete in next March’s inter-confederation playoffs, with a view to joining the already nine qualified African nations at the Finals.
It would mark Iwobi’s second appearance at the World Cup Finals and the Super Eagles’ first since the 2018 edition of the competition.
Back then, Iwobi featured in all three games as Nigeria was knocked out in the group stage.
The Chief Executive Officer(CEO) and Publisher of the Atlantic Bell Online medium, Mr. Celestine Ogolo has advised sports writers in Nigeria to diversify in sports writing and not to concentrate on football reporting alone.
The Deputy National President of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Mr. Bonny Nyong has expressed commitment to support sports development and move SWAN forward.