Still in tears over the sad incident that claimed the life of a member of the Nigeria Referees Association, NRA, Dr Kingsley Eneogwe who died in a fatal motor accident on his way back home after a league match, President of the association Otunba Tade Azeez has asked his members on duty for the weekend league matches not to worry about the hazards associated with the hobby, but to go about their duties with diligence.
Recall that Dr Eneogwe had performed as one of the officials for last Wednesday’s North Central derby; Nassarawa Utd vs Plateau Utd in Kaduna before he met his untimely exit.
Otunba Tade Azeez while declaring a mournful mood for the entire referees in Nigeria over the death of the medical doctor cum referee enjoined those on duty to use free and fair officiating as mark of honour to their fallen colleague .
On this note, the NRA President requested the referees to not only wear black arm bands but also observe a minute silence before commencement of matches for this weekend games.
On another angle of the league, he said that the association is elated by the decision of the IMC of the league for the sanctions placed on a team which assaulted a referee on their ground in one of the last matches.
“The NRA appreciates the punishment as it will serve as deterrent to others willing to make referees their punch bag this season. We have asked out members for matches to maintain highest degree of uprightness at venues and use these encounters to honour our late member who died while returning home after a game. A minute silence shall be observed before commencement of matches while the referees shall wear black arm bands” Tade added.
FIFA referees from Nigeria who received their international badges on Wednesday will use this weekend matches as dress rehearsal ahead of their continental outings for CAF Club Competitions next week.
Four international referees; Abdulahi Abubakar of Niger Council, his counterpart from Cross River, Joseph Ogabor and Kano’s Bashir Salisu are in different centers along side a woman fifa referee, Hannah Eliagwu to control proceedings from the centre of the field while others on the lines as Assistant Referees are Usman Abdulmajid, Hope Igho, Efosa Celestine, Samuel Pwadutakam and newly badged Mohammed Yakubu who will officially wear the white badge for a game today. The women are not left out too as Beauty Terah and Mfom Friday have their flags ready for action at the different centers.
Other fifa referees of the Beach and Futsal are also on the lineup as well two women international referees coming in as Fourth Officials for the Weeknd’s soccer showpiece.
The appointment by the NFF Referees Committee
INSURANCE VS GOMBE
PASTOR MIKE Assessor
ABDULAHI A NG Referee
USMAN ABDUL OY Assistant Referee 1
PETER B FCT Assistant Referee 2
EZEOGU O EN Fourth Official
ENYIMBA VS ELKANEMI
DAVE E DT
OGABOR J CR
HOPE I LG
BEAUTY T FCT
FUMI ALABA OG
SHOOTING VS NASSARAWA
MEHEUX J RV
AUSTIN O AK
EFOSA C ED
EZE EDWIN EN
MADU P EN
AKWA VS REMO
SHITTU A KD
OLALEKAN D EK
PWADUTAKAM S AD
AMBER S BN
EKUN S KG
PLATEU VS KWARA
ZUMANU U BO
BASHIR S KN
M YAKUBU BA
SERA G BA
ABBA D YB
SUNSHINE VS BAYELSA
ABDULKARIM KD
FRANK A IM
FRIDAY F BA
MICHAEL U KD
BEN J BN
.TORNADOES VS LOBI
HAUWA Q YB
MUSIBAUDEEN I EB
MUYIWA O OY
MFOM FRIDAY AK
OGBONNA SHED EN
DAKADDA VS ABIA W
OYEBODE T EK
HANNAH E FCT
BELLO Z KB
NURA RABIU KT
ANYAM G BN
WIKKI VS RANGERS
VICTORIA C PL
MUNTAKA A NS
MUSA DUNG PL
YAHAYA I KD
KAZIM A ZM
DOMA VS RIVERS
R AUNDUGH BN
KOLAWOLE E KW
S.M OKO EN
NJOKU W IM
LOJUL B PL
The NRA once again continues to wish all appointed referees journey mercies and best wishes
