Unical Lecturer Emerges FIFA Best Referee In Africa
https://www.fearlessreports.com/2017/07/unical-lecturer-emerges-fifa-best.html
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| Mr. Joseph Ogabor (L) with the NFF President, Amaju Pinnick |
Ogabor came top in the recently held Federation of International Football Association, FIFA referees course in Egypt.
In a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary of Nigeria Referees Association, NRA, Kelechi Mejuobi, Ogabor was described as a great and worthy ambassador of Nigeria.
"A FIFA referee from Nigeria, Joseph Ogabor Odey has emerged the Overall Best in Match Analysis Test during the New FIFA Referees Course in Egypt.
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| Ogabor receiving award in Egypt |
"Ogabor, a Lecturer with the University of Calabar is a member of the Cross River State Referees Council. He was among those badged December 2016.
"The NRA not only congratulates Ogabor for coming out in flying colours but also becoming a worthy ambassador of the country at the international scene", the statement reads.
Ogabor performance in Nigeria Professional League matchday 27 clash between Lobi Stars of Makurdi and Rangers International of Enugu has attracted the accolades of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF.
The President of the football apex body, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick on Monday lauded the performance of Ogabor in the game.
NFF President disclosed at the opening ceremony of the FIFA MA Elite Course that he received heartwarming phone calls from the management of visiting team, Rangers FC who lost 1-3 to the effect that Ogabor had an excellent outing in the game played at the Aper Aku Stadium in Makurdi.
“We need more of Ogabors in Nigerian Football; Young referees who care for nothing other than to achieve excellence, through upholding the values of integrity and fairness.
The NFF is proud of you and will continue to monitor your performance, just as we will work assiduously with the NRA to produce more referees who are committed to officiating matches according to the laws of the game,” Pinnick said.
We have awkward way of life in this country and it plays out at wrong times. I see NFF President, Pinnick congratulating Mr Ogabor for excellent performance at Egypt but no one will care to tell us how he struggled alone and it maybe with a little assistance from the University to get to the top. Today, we are celebrating him and he is now a worthy ambassador for Nigeria in FIFA Sports. Joseph Ogabor is mostly likely a Nigerian citizen from Cross River State who would have failed that kind of test if conducted in Nigeria by NFF because of his minority status. Nigeria with the present population of 170M people is capable of producing innumerable amazing referees and having over 100 super international football teams but the status of where the player comes from destroys the morale of young great players as well as sportsmen and women. If we pray for "Ogabor's types" to emerge from Nigeria then we must change our mentality of Godfather ism. It is destroying Great Nigeria and total rejection is the only solution. To Joseph Ogabor, I say congratulations!
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