Ahead of the NNL pre-season seminar scheduled to take place from October 28th to 30th at Remo Stars Stadium, retired FIFA referee Chukwudi Chukwujekwu, widely known for his technical expertise, expressed his enthusiasm for being one of the key resource persons.
In an interview with Sports247, Chukwujekwu emphasized the need to educate coaches, media officers, and other participants on the latest updates to the laws of football.
Chukwujekwu reflected on the importance of similar seminars, such as the NPFL referee preparation program, which has helped players, coaches, and media professionals better understand the workings of refereeing.
READ ALSO: Lagos Individual Boxing Club Championship: Grassroots Sports Development a Priority – Lekan Fatodu
“There are some changes that have happened, the thinking of the referees and stuff, so that’s exactly what I intend doing with them, so that I will explain the new concepts, the way they are and explain what the new thinking of refereeing is, so that when they get back, they will be able to tell their players that this is the new thing.”
He highlighted that changes in football rules happen yearly, driven by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), which aims to make the game more dynamic and understandable for all involved.
“Football rules change every year and the truth is this, football is a living thing and the International Football Association board that deals with rule changes has constituted a committee of technical who are referees that will look at the laws of the game.
But some two or three years now, they have added what they call the football players committee. People who have played this game and every now and then, we look at the things that will make the game a lot more beautiful.”
One key focus of his upcoming session will be the recent changes around penalties, especially dealing with encroachment, as well as clarifying the existing offside rule.
He noted that while VAR has made offside calls easier in other parts of the world, African referees still face challenges in handling these decisions manually, making the need for such seminars crucial.
Chukwujekwu concluded by saying that constant education and updating of knowledge are necessary to ensure everyone remains aligned with the evolving game, allowing players and teams to adapt effectively.
