Nigerian Referees, Best In Africa - Match Commissioner

Nigerian Referees, Best In Africa - Match Commissioner

By Sampson Adedeji

A Match Commissioner who led officials into the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) game between Kwara United and Rangers International rated Nigerian referees as the best in Africa, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

The Edo State FA Chairman, Fred Newton hailed the performance of match officials following their top-notch performance from the beginning of the season.

Speaking exclusively to www.bsnsports.com.ng on Tuesday, the Edo State sports administrator said, "the match officials that handled the match between Rangers and Kwara United, those boys, the World need to know them.

First of all, I gave kudos to the president of NFF, Ibrahim Gusau, for transforming Nigeria football and the referees and also kudos to president of NRA, Alhaji Suberu, what we witnessed this season has never happened in Nigeria history.

"Talking about the match which I commissioned yesterday at Kwara State, it was a very epic match, Kwara United is a good team against an energetic Rangers. first of all I want say thank to the Referee Appointment Committee for selecting good hands from Nigeria, our referees are the best in Africa because what we have seen in the match day 9 across Nigeria is enough to applaud the referees.

"Imagine the game in Edo State, the home team, Bendel Insurance lost 0-1 and it was as peaceful as anything because the officiating was top notch.

"Gone are those days when people will say, how can a Yoruba man from a Yoruba speaking State come to officiate a team come from the South West. Despite coming from the South West, the officiating was unbiased and the center referee, Olalekan Daramola who is from Ekiti State, was neutral giving the right call at every time.

"These referees are well trained and NFF have invested more on them for to bring back the dignity of Nigeria in the African space and World. In the beginning of the season, the NPFL and NFF have made it clear that if you don't do well, you will be shown the exit doors.

"The AR 1 Ojolade Ibrahim is from Osun State, fantastic young man, all his calls were accurate, then AR 2, Jimoh Abubakar from Lagos State , then Kehinde Rotimi 4th official from Osun State.

"If I have my way, I will love to work with these set of boys, they made Nigeria Football gets its respect, no matter whom you are and who you are representing they don't care, they handle the game and interpreted the laws accurately.

"And I was pleased with them, I told them after the game, they should keep the performance at the stage and in the nearest future they will fly Nigerian flag to officiate in high top matches in the World, they are not up to 22 years old and they are making waves in the NPFL.

"I want to also thank the fans because they now understand that football is not about win at all cost syndrome.

"We don't want a club that will represent us in the CAF competitions but won't do well, we want to see the best team win League and FA Cup. The referees are the sole judge, they determined what happened in football, today they are back and we are so happy , so kudos to Faitha Irabor the chairman referees appointment committee, thank you very much madam, for a job well done and those referees are so fit."