Daily Independent Online.
*
Wednesday, June 30, 2004.
Okala craves fair officiating in
Coca-Cola FA Cup
By Emeka Nwani
Senior
Correspondent,
Lagos
Former Green Eagles
goalkeeper, Emmanuel Okala has advised referees to officiate with all sincerity
in the Coca-Cola FA Cup currently going on in the country.
Okala who was the
Match Commissioner in the game between Sharks of Port-Harcourt and NITEL of
Lagos noted that the success of the competition depends on the conduct of
referees in all matches.
“ They have
really improved. And I want them to continue to do well in the Coca-Cola FA Cup
competition.
“ There is no
need playing a competition and having it
messed up when the going gets tough. If they can just be good in the
matches, everybody will see how
well the competition will turn out to be.
“ You know
that we have amateur teams and players who are eager to make a name for
themselves. And if there is no room for them to showcase their talents, there
is no way they can be encouraged to do their best.
“ I want the
referees to see the Coca-Cola FA Cup as a competition that they can really
contribute to make it the best.
“ No matter
the situation, referees should be fearless. When a player knows that he will
get fair officiating in a match, he tends to do better.
“ But when a
match starts and he gets to know that a referee is not doing well, he will not
give his best. So far, we’ve not heard of any major incident where
referees did not officiate well.
“ I am sure
they will continue to give the players something to remember,” Okala told
Daily Independent in Enugu.
