Chairman Abia Comets Football Club of Umuahia, Victor Nwankama Sunday praised match officials that handled their away match against COD United of Lagos, describing it as one of the best officiating his team has gotten in recent years.
Abia Comets suffered a 3-1 defeat at the Onikan Stadium, Lagos in the Week 1 tie of the 2015/2016 Nigeria National League.
Nwankama, while speaking with newsmen after the game said if referees can be fair and firm like Usman. U, Rabiu Fatima and Onibanjo. O all from Ogun State, then the league is poised for greatness and away victories and draws will be recorded.
“We lost the game to ourselves, we scored ourselves and I think the match officials were calm in their approach, it was a good game and they handled it well. Both teams were tough and committed and there were some tasty challenges and the referee’s handling of it overall was good.”
“This is one of the best officiating I have seen in recent years, we lost but sincerely officiating was free, fair and firm,” the retired referee said.
In a similar vein, Unicem Rovers of Calabar coach, Caleb Esu, also praised Referee Saheed Babayanju, who handled their match against Prime FC, for his unbiased decisions.