Officiating: Don’t compromise, Imo FA boss begs Nigerian referees
By Everest Ezihe, Owerri
Photo: Cross section of the dignitaries during the AGM meeting.
Barr. Ifeanyichukwu Dike (Fela), the Chairman of Imo State Football Association, FA has enjoined Nigerian referees not to compromise in their officiating so as to enable the sports grow into a world class game.
Dike said this Saturday while declaring open the maiden well attended 2024 Annual General Meeting, AGM of Imo State Football Referee’s Council held at the State FA Board Room, Secretariat.
According to him, “refereeing is the beauty of every game. You must instill discipline and jettison compromise . My mission is to restore the lost glory of the game of football in Imo State, and I will never disappoint” he assured.
He lamented that the interest in football both in the state and Nigeria at large is dwindling due to unprofessional conducts of some referees and appealed to them to stop forthwith.
The FA boss further observed that in the recent past, the national teams were dominated by footballers from Eastern region of the country and expressed disenchantment over the paucity of such players in today’s national teams.
Earlier, in his address of welcome, Chrisantus Okoro, the Chairman Imo State Referees Council lamented over the challenges his administration has faced for the past one year but reiterated that they have been able to regain mutual relationship with the State FA.
Okoro said that, ” We have cemented the strain relationship between us and our parent body, Imo FA, to this end, the back log of referees affiliation fees that have not been paid since 2020 – 2024 has been cleared. We have also visited the FA on a courtesy visit, where some grey areas were harmonized” he opinionated.
The Chairman pointed out the litany of achievements his administration has so far recorded, which includes registration of 412 of their members in this year annual registration, refurbishment of their office and procurement of a projector that would aid in the development of fresh referees.
Highlights of the occasion was opening of their new office secretariat by the dignitaries, and the congratulation of Chief Kelechi Mejuobi ( Agwodinaujo) on his recent election into Imo FA Board as well as his subsequent appointment as the nation’s Chairman of Referees Development Committee.
