Pinnick Opens FIFA Elite Referees’ Programme

President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Melvin Pinnick, will on Monday declare open this year’s FIFA Member Association (MA) Elite Programme for Nigerian referees, assessors and physical fitness trainers in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
This year’s programme will run from Monday to Saturday this week.
Last year, more than 230 Nigerian referees, instructors and assessors were involved in the elite programme, which took place, also in Abuja.
Head of the NFF Referees Unit and Secretary of the NFF Referees Committee, Sani Zubair reconfirmed to thenff.com at the weekend that all arrangements have been concluded for the international program that will this year, involve Nigeria’s 29 men and women FIFA referees, 15 elite National referees, all National referee assessors, all National physical fitness instructors and non –FIFA women referees.
Zubair also stated that the team of three FIFA instructors would be led by the Regional Development Officer, Carlos Manuel Neves Henrique, and will include Felix Onias Tangawarima from Zimbabwe (referee instructor) and Tracy Sophia Lovell (physical instructor).
The FIFA instructors will be supported by nine (9) highly –respected Nigerian instructors Calistus Chukwujekwu, Felicia Okonji, Mohammed Adebayo Ameenu and Faith Irabor (technical), as well as Abraham Zakowi, Bola Abidoye, Emmanuel Edikin Imiere, Bola Sekiteri and Stella Eloji (physical).
The program will take place at the National Stadium Complex, Abuja with theoretical classes inside the Media Centre of the complex. The programme will run thus:

Day 1: Physical Fitness Test; Laws of the Game; Google Test; Formation of Working Groups & Allocation of Clips

Day 2: Practical Training Recovery; Power Point Presentation on Offside; Clips Discussion and Analysis; Tactical Fouls; Positioning and Movement/Reading the Game

Day 3: Practical Training Instant Feedback; Clip Discussion &Analysis on Handball; Analysis on Penalty Area Incidents; Presentation on Integrity; Video Test (incorporating all areas)

Day 4: Practical Training Instant Feedback; Discussion on Tactical Fouls; Qualities of a Match Official; Presentation By Physical Instructor; Discussion on Clips from Referees

Day 5: Video Test; Discussion Forum and Course Evaluation; Course Conclusion; Closing Ceremony/Certificate Presentation