Over one hundred referees in Bayelsa State have been equipped with modern officiating techniques in preparation for Nigeria’s largest grassroots football tournament, the Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament, also known as the Prosperity Cup.
The training covered all eight local government areas in the state.
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The initiative was organized by the Prosperity Cup committee in collaboration with the Nigeria Referees Association (NRA), Bayelsa State Referees Council, Bayelsa State Football Association, and the Ministry of Sports Development.
The two-day refresher course consisted of theoretical and practical sessions, culminating in an on-field practical session at the Samson Siasia Stadium.
Speaking to journalists after the training, renowned referee instructor and FIFA assessor Peter Edibe expressed his delight at seeing children aged eight to twelve participating, indicating a promising future for refereeing in Bayelsa State.
He expressed confidence that the referees would apply their newly acquired knowledge effectively during the tournament.
CAF instructor and member of the NFF Referees Committee, Chukwudi Chukwujekwu, emphasized that the refresher course would significantly enhance officiating standards in line with global best practices.
He lauded the organizers for their efforts and encouraged other states to adopt similar training programs to improve refereeing nationwide.
The Chairman of the Nigeria Referees Association, Bayelsa State chapter, Ebi Nwankwe, praised the quality of the training, noting that the expertise shared by the resource persons would elevate the standard of officiating in the state.
Referees Richman Otiti and Rachel Onyekwere, who participated in the training, acknowledged that the exercise introduced them to new laws of the game, some of which would take effect in June.
They expressed gratitude to the organizers for updating them with the latest officiating rules, ensuring they remain competitive with their counterparts across Nigeria and beyond.
With the Prosperity Cup set to begin soon, the newly trained referees are expected to uphold professionalism and fairness, contributing to a successful and well-officiated tournament.
