Daily Independent Online.
*
Monday, July 05, 2004.
Jaja
scores Chadian referee low
By Orkula Shaagee
Correspondent, Abuja
A board member of
the Nigeria Football Association and presidential candidate of the Nigeria
Football Referees Association (NRA), Dr. Sam Sam Jaja has criticized the
performances of the officials that handled last Saturdayís Germany 2006
World Cup qualifier between Nigeria and Algeria.
According to Jaja
who spoke to sports writers after breath taking encounter in Abuja, the
referees were not competent to handle a big match like the World Cup qualifier,
but those who appointed them know best.
He says most of the
decisions taken by the referees were questionable, and that even their physical
fitness was suspect as most of the time, they were found top have failed to
meet up with the pace of the match.
Jaja who says he
has pencil down that as one of the areas he would address when he takes over as
President of the Nigeria Football Referees Association, blamed non-involvement
of Nigeria referees in international politics as Nigeriaís bane in this
direction.
On his planned
programmes if elected President of the Nigeria Football Referees Association,
Jaja disclosed that he would solidify the achievements of the out-going
President of the association, Col. Joro Dogo Yabilsu, as it would be wrong to
jettison programmes of the former administration and carry out new ones.
This, he said would
include ensuring that Nigerian referees get their due recognition
internationally, especially increased quota to Nigeria in the appointment of
mach officials and improved welfare of members among others.
