A second batch of elite referees, this time 20 in number, will depart Nigeria for a two –week capacity building exercise in the United Kingdom on January 25, 2015.
The delegation will be led by Chairman of the NFF Referees Committee, Yusuf Ahmed Fresh, and will also include the Chairman of Nigeria Referees Association, Ahmed Maude.
Already, ARIK airline has offered to fly the 22 persons at half the fare to the United Kingdom and back, while Seina Marine Limited is bankrolling the exercise.
Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Seina Marine, Mr. Scot Tommey said on Monday: “We are delighted to be a part of this because we believe in the well-articulated vision of Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick for Nigeria football.
“He is someone who knows exactly what it will take to make positive changes to the Nigeria game and we are interested in lending a helping hand. I can tell you that apart from the support we are giving to this exercise, we are also looking at other areas in which we can partner the NFF on football development.”
The twenty referees who will benefit from the second exercise are: Hadiza Musa, Bosede Momoh, Uloma Nwogu, Paul Umuago, Jelili Ogunmuyiwa, Ibrahim Umar Fagge, Jeremiah Akure, Francis Agbaegbu, Ahmed Rufai, Iheanacho Chukwuemeka, Dele Atoun, Suleiman Jimeta, Abubakar Audu, Obieze Okiridu, Ezenwanko Obiora, Ishyaku Ibrahim, Sunny Atu, Sani Mohammed, Jibrin Isa and Mohammed Aliyu Jingi.
Those who went for the first exercise are Ferdinand Udoh, Shuaibu Abdullahi, Usman Isah, Samuel Pwadutakam, Orowole Tope, Egudia Efosa, Peter Ogwu, Musa Dung Davon, Olayinka Olayide and Ukah Ndubuisi.
NFF President Amaju Pinnick said: “It is an ongoing exercise. We want to have a pool of 60 referees who will be fully prepared and able to handle matches in the Nigeria Premier League and other domestic competitons without fear or favour.”
