Sierra Leone: Referees Undergo Elite Fifa/Caf Course

Concord Times (Freetown)

29 June 2011

Freetown — A total of 26 referees are undergoing a week-long high level FIFA/CAF refereeing course at the Sierra Leone Football Association academy, Kingtom.

The course, which commenced on Monday June 27, will run till July 2 and has attracted top match officials from across the country.

Jonathan Leigh, chairman of the course’s opening ceremony, said “this is the third year in a row that Sierra Leonean referees are benefiting from quality training under the Football Association”. He said the holding of such a course is a demonstration of the FA’s desire to develop the game of football, especially the referees who form one of the five components of the game.

“I hope the referees will handle this course with seriousness and will also appreciate it because nobody can take the education acquired from them,” Leigh said.

FIFA referee instructor, Joseph Wellington in his remarks appealed to the media to encourage the referees, noting that it is only the media who can give them the opportunity to officiate in the bigger stage.

He said: “Your responsibility as media is to report the right things if only you want to see Sierra Leonean referees officiate in the World Cup.”

He however cautioned the referees that this year’s physical test will comprise 10 lapses instead of 12.

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