Tangawarima: Nigerian Referees Are Improving

FIFA Referees Instructor, Felix Tangawarima, has said that Nigerian referees are truly improving as professionals and they can only get better.

Tangawarima, a former FIFA referee from Zimbabwe, is among a trio of instructors sent by the world football governing body to conduct a six-day FIFA Member Associations Course for elite referees, technical instructors and physical fitness instructors, which opened in Abuja on Monday.

At the formal opening ceremony inside the conference hall of the FIFA Technical Centre, inside the National Stadium Complex, Abuja on Thursday, Tangawarima, who spoke on behalf of himself, Mali’s Sidi Bekaye Magassa and Malawi’s Mark Mzengo, affirmed: “I am saying this with every sense of sincerity and responsibility. Your referees are improving by the day and will only get better.

“I am quite happy for the support that the Nigeria Football Federation is giving to programmes that have to do with improving the referees.”

A total of 32 Nigerian elite referees and assistant referees are participating in the programme, while there are 43 assessors, nine technical instructors and 19 physical fitness instructors. The Course Coordinator is Mr. Linus Mba while Mohammed Aminu, Eke Onyeforo and Stella Eloji are assistant instructors. Engineer Emmanuel Imiere, retired FIFA referee, is local fitness instructor.

Speaking at the event, NFF General Secretary, Barrister Musa Amadu, who represented the NFF President, thanked the FIFA delegates and promised that the Federation would continue to support all programmes that would enhance the professional competence and capacity of Nigerian referees.