Futuro III Referee Instructor course wraps up

A weeklong Futuro Referee Instructor Course organised by the Gambia Football Association (GFA) and FIFA ended on Saturday at the Paradise Suites Hotel in Kololi.

The course, which took place from 22 to 27 November 2010, brought together referee instructors from The Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Speaking on behalf of Seedy M.B. Kinteh, president of the GFA, Jammeh Bojang, the GFA secretary-general, said he was happy about the enthusiasm and level of commitment shown by the instructors, and advised the participants to apply the laws and knowledge gained from the training properly. 

Mr Bojang stated that as referee instructors they must prevent all methods or practices that might jeopardize or compromise the integrity of the game.

The integrity of referees is paramount and as such they should implement and interpret the laws of the game, he says, adding that they must comply fully with the statutes, regulations, directives and decisions of FIFA.

He also urged the referee instructors to recruit and motivate women referees, adding that they should strictly follow FIFA guidelines when conducting fitness tests on referees.

"Referees should be appointed in good time before the match thus, allowing adequate time for them to prepare, save in exceptional situations that are duly justified," he said.

SG Bojang also said that as referee instructors they must be ready to sanction any referee or group of referees found wanting and should not reward anyone for a bad behaviour.

Mr Bojang concluded by thanking the FIFA officials for imparting knowledge into "our honourable instructors", adding that they would constantly work with FIFA for more training programmes for the development of football.

The GFA secretary-general also said he would bedelighted to see lots of African referees at the 2014 World Cup, which will be held in Brazil.

Joseph Wellington, the course director, from Ghana, said that though the week was very challenging, it was "a joy to come to the end of the programme".

The participants were "very cooperative" during the course, Mr Wellington said while thanking the GFA for hosting the training in The Gambia.