Rivers Referee Academy To Produce FIFA Graded Referees Soon 

The coordinator of the Rivers State Referee Academy in Port Harcourt Coach Ere Dokubo said he foresee a situation where the academy would produce International referees in eight years to come.

According to him their target was  to get the best in their early age that will officiate in FIFA organised football  competitions.

Coach Dokubo made the assertion at the weekend in a chat with Tidesports in Port Harcourt , saying that students admitted into the academy are between eight and 13 years bracket.

He explained that  Nigeria have not  produced referees to officiate  World cup games was because most of the referees did not start on time but believed that the academy would produce referees of that standard.

” We  admit them in their early age between  eight, nine and 13,  the first phase just ended because it was an holiday programme as  most of them are students.

” We are targeting to produce FIFA graded referees  in the future.

” I believe in eight years to come some of  these ones we are bringing up today will be FIFA graded  referees out of them, some will officiate in the highest league that is Nigeria Professional Football League ( NPFL), why some will officiate in the lower league( NLO).

” I am optimistic  that we must produce FIFA graded referees from the academy” Dokubo stated.