Sports

Rivers Referee Academy To Produce FIFA Graded Referees Soon

Published

10 months ago

May 8, 2024

The Coordinator of the Rivers State Referee Academy in Port Harcourt, Coach Ere Dokubo says he foresees a situation where the academy would produce international referees in eight years to come.
According to him, their target was to get the best in their early age that will officiate in FIFA organised football competitions.
Coach Dokubo made the assertion at the weekend in a chat with Tidesports in Port Harcourt , saying that students admitted into the academy are between eight and 13 years bracket.
He explained that Nigeria have not produced referees to officiate World cup games was because most of the referees did not start on time but believed that the academy would produce referees of that standard.
“ We admit them in their early age between eight, nine and 13, the first phase just ended because it was an holiday programme as most of them are students.
“ We are targeting to produce FIFA graded referees in the future.
“ I believe in eight years to come some of these ones we are bringing up today will be FIFA graded referees out of them, some will officiate in the highest league that is Nigeria Professional Football League ( NPFL), why some will officiate in the lower league ( NLO).
“ I am optimistic that we must produce FIFA graded referees from the academy” Dokubo stated.

By: Kiadum Edookor

Sports

Ogba, Others Endorse Niger Delta Sports Festival

Published

2 days ago

March 5, 2025

The Tide

Vice president of the Nigeria Olympics Committee (NOC), Chief Solomon Ogba, foremost Sports Marketer and founder of Okpekpe Road Race, Mike Itemuagbor and top Sports Journalist and Media Strategist, Mitchel Obi have lent their voices in support of the Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF).
The personalities with backgrounds in sports administration, marketing and media spoke separately in commendation of the festival, an initiative of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) with Dunamis Icon as consultants.
“This is a positive addition to the evolving sports business ecosystem because it is not just a springboard for identifying talents, it also offers a platform to truly hone the skills of those already discovered”, remarked Obi, who served as Special Advisor to a former Sports Minister, late Anthony Ikhazabor.
He said the festival will be a flagship event in the region that would trigger interest in sports among the youths and people of the region.
Edo State-born Itemuagbor commended the NDDC for the decision to add sports in the list of their intervention projects in the region, adding that: “This speaks directly to the problem of youth restiveness which is of great concern to our people.”

Sports

Onyedika Not Sure For Super Eagles W’C Qualifiers

Published

2 days ago

March 5, 2025

The Tide

Raphael Onyedika has now emerged as a major doubt for the Super Eagles’ must-win 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe later this month.
The midfielder was forced out early from last week’s league game against Standard Liege.
He has not recovered from the injury and so will miss today’s league match against Gent and may also miss a UEFA Champions League Round of 16 clash against Aston Villa yesterday.
The Super Eagles take on Rwanda in Kigali on March 21, before they face Zimbabwe in Uyo four days later in crucial World Cup qualifiers.

Sports

‘I Must Win Trophy Before Retirement’

Published

2 days ago

March 5, 2025

The Tide

Nigeria’s Super Eagles and Al-Khalood defender, William Troost-Ekong, has shared his experience on the difficulties of winning the prestigious Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) while describing it a must win trophy.
The former Watford FC defender has competed in the tournament three times but has yet to lift the trophy.
“I’ve been there three times now, bronze medal, silver medal, but I haven’t had the chance to win it. That remains my ultimate goal,” he told Tidesports source.
“It means so much to me and all the kids growing up in Africa and Nigeria.”