Olawale Ajimotokan and Oghenevwede Ohwovorio in Abuja
In a bid to bolster the integrity of the Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL), the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has rolled out a new regulation for this season, mandating all match commissioners to publish their match reports online within two hours after a game concludes.
During a one-day seminar for match commissioners in Abuja, themed “Match Commissioning and the Challenges of Match Reporting,” NFF President Ibrahim Gusau highlighted this significant initiative. He pointed out that the era of waiting hours or even days for match reports will soon come to an end with the introduction of the new online reporting system.
“Our goal is to ensure that only the best individuals serve as match commissioners in our league. We’ll be making this seminar a biennial affair and implementing an examination to identify the most qualified candidates to represent us effectively,” Gusau explained.
Encouraging the seminar participants, he added, “I know many of you aspire to become FIFA and CAF match commissioners. Attaining that level requires not only competence and capability but also digital literacy. It’s crucial that you continue to hone your skills.”
Gusau also revealed that match commissioners who successfully pass the forthcoming examination, alongside referees and referee assessors, will receive new kits supported by Premium Trust Bank, the official banking partner of the NFF and the National Teams.
Emphasizing the importance of integrity in the league, NPFL Chairman Gbenga Elegbeleye stated, “The perception of our league externally is greatly shaped by how our own people view it. Our officiating officials have done a commendable job; with few exceptions, their performance has been outstanding. I want to extend my appreciation to NFF President Ibrahim Gusau for providing our referees with modern communication tools,” Elegbeleye concluded.
