Awka, the capital of Anambra State will in the month of April 2025 witness potpourri of referees activities as the South East Zone of the Nigeria Football Referees’ Association, NFRA holds Zonal Training Program.
Under the able leadership of the Pastor Ijeoma Nwosu (Fifa Rtd) the event will take place 10-12 April, 2025 where active referees of Grade One and Grade Two categories, including Assessors of NPFL and NNL are expected to undergo training and refresher courses scheduled to hold at the Awka Township Stadium and the Bishop AK Obiefuna Retreat Centre, Okpuno, Awka , Anambra State.
According to a statement issued by the Chairman of the Planning Committee and Deputy President of the Nigeria Football Referees’ Association, NFRA, Sir Kelechi Mejuobi, the event, the first of its kind in the South East Zone of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States will see the Chief Technical Instructor of Referees in Nigeria, member of the NFF Referees Committee, Rtd Fifa Callistus Chukwudi Chukwujekwu and Chief Physical Fitness Instructor and Vice President 1 of the NFRA, Engr Emmanuel Imiere.
Schedule of events has it that after arrival on Thursday, April 10th, the event shall be kick started with a physical fitness test on Friday, April 11 2025 in the morning hours at the Awka Township Stadium, to be followed by a class work for both active referees and Assessors to be heralded by opening ceremony at the Bishop AK Obiefuna Retreat Centre Okpuno, Awka at 2pm.
After the lecture and classwork series, the participants move to the Awka Township Stadium on Saturday, April 12th, 2025 at 8am for very important field practicals to experiment what was learnt in class before departure latter in the day.
The leadership of the NFRA, led by Hon Sani Zubairu (fifa Rtd ) and the Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Chief Felix Anyansi Agwu, are expected to grace the occasion including the Chairman of the NFF Referees Committee, Faith Irabor, FIFA Rtd, and FA Chairmen of the Five South East States. Special Guest of Honour is the Chairman of the Anambra State Sports Commission who will declare the event open.
