Gusau: Refereeing is a vocation that requires the highest level of integrity, discipline, dedication, diligence and moral rectitude

President of Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau says he is always most pained any time there is a report of misdemeanour by a Nigerian referee or a list of referees for major tourneys is released without a single Nigerian referee.

Gusau expressed his pains when he hosted former FIFA referee, and now FIFA senior technical instructor Felix Tangawarima who is at the head of the FIFA team that superintended a five-day training programme for the country’s Young Talents (40 young arbiters) in Nigeria.

During the visit, Tangawarima revealed that he and his team have seen so much promise and potential from the Young Talents, some of whom he said ‘can easily step up to the plate to replace some of the elite referees that we believe are no longer good enough.’

Responding, Gusau said ‘I personally find it unacceptable. At every opportunity, I tell the referees that we will continue to assist those who deliberately step out of line, to stay away permanently. It is a vocation that requires the highest level of integrity, discipline, dedication, diligence and moral rectitude.

‘We are delighted at the good recommendation you have given our next generation of referees. We will work assiduously to see that they fulfill their potential.”

The NFF President also used the occasion to announce that the Federation has already procured new gadgets for Nigerian referees to enhance their work on the field of play.

Also at the meeting were NFF Deputy General Secretary, Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme; Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire; Chairperson of NFF Referees Sub-Committee, Mrs Faith Irabor; Members of NFF Referees Sub-Committee Abraham Zakowi and Waziri Furo Gawe and; SA to General Secretary, Mr. Mohammed Ameenu.