The members of the Nigeria Referees Association, NRA, are not leaving any stone unturned to ensure another smooth session of match officiating in the fast approaching season.
This was part of the outcome of the Annual General Meeting of the association held in Owerri at the weekend.
In a communique issued at the end of the event held at De Range Hotel, the NRA while appreciating the massive support it gains from the federation and other football organizing bodies noted that it continue to work “at sustaining the progress made so far and improving the rating of referees at all levels to gain the confidence of other stakeholders in the football sector”
In the same vein, the NRA agreed to change the designation of the National Training Officer, NTO to Development Officer / Referees Coach which is in tandem with international standard and the trending mechanism in modern referees development, even as official approval has been given for a a new mode of dressing for referees and assessors in the NPFL premier league as well as Nigeria FIFA referees on international assignment.
While the welfare of referees and assessors handling the various leagues in Nigeria was considered with the introduction of an insurance policy for the coming season, the association’s intent to develop grassroots football received a boost with creation of new referees’ societies at the Local Government Areas football units. One month grace to fulfil the necessary conditions has also been granted to the ones handed Provincial Approval. Also, the results of the 2017 NRA Promotion Examination was released.
Part of the highlights of the meeting which was declared open by the Executive Governor of Imo state, represented by His Deputy, Prince Eze Madumere and witnessed by many dignitaries including the SWAN President, Honour Sariwoo, was the adoption of precautionary measures in the public announcement of match appointments for domestic and international matches. “for the sake of integrity and avoidance of influence of manipulators, details of movement of
referees ahead of their match appointments shall no longer be a public affair especially in the social media until after the matches”
