Joel Ajayi 

President of the Nigeria Handball Federation, Jibril Saidu Ojih FNIQS, has charged newly trained young referees to uphold excellence, discipline, and professionalism as they begin their officiating careers in handball.

Speaking on Friday in Abuja at official presentation of certificate for 24 young refrees,  the HFN president emphasized the critical role referees play in the growth and development of handball in Nigeria.

According to Jibril, the initiative was designed to strengthen officiating standards and improve the overall quality of handball competitions across the country. The training featured participants from North Central states, excluding Kwara State, with a total of 24 participants made up of 12 male and 12 female referees.

The participants underwent several online training sessions before completing an intensive seven-day physical training programme aimed at sharpening their practical officiating skills and improving their understanding of modern handball rules.

Addressing the participants, Jibril reminded them that refereeing comes with enormous responsibility and demands fairness, confidence, consistency, and continuous learning.
“You must take this opportunity seriously. Officiating is not easy, but with commitment, discipline, and passion, you will grow into respected professionals,” he said.

He stressed that the programme goes beyond certification, urging the trainees to apply the knowledge and skills gained in their future assignments…

“This is not just about earning a certificate. The knowledge and skills you acquire here must be reflected in your performance on the court and in your contribution to the development of handball in Nigeria,” he added.

Jibril further reiterated the federation’s commitment to grassroots development, noting that the HFN is focused on creating opportunities for young talents across the country.

“The first point is simple: we are going grassroots. We want to ensure that young people are given opportunities in sports development, and handball is no exception,” he said.

He explained that the current administration is building on the legacy of the immediate past leadership while introducing new innovations to advance the sport.

“This training is important because these young referees and officials are the future of the game. They are the ones who will take handball to greater heights. Without good referees, the quality of the game drops, and naturally, people lose interest in watching.”

Using a recent tournament in Kaduna as an example, Jibril highlighted the importance of grassroots competitions. He noted that the participation of lesser-known teams demonstrated the need to expand handball development to underserved communities.

He also revealed that the chairman of the PRC of the International Handball Federation had urged Nigeria to invest more in developing young referees, given the country’s importance in global handball.

Looking ahead, Jibril expressed confidence that many of the trainees could become continental and international referees within the next 8 to 10 years if properly nurtured.He concluded by encouraging the new referees to remain dedicated and maintain close communication with the federation whenever they face challenges.

“We are building for the future. Once we get these young people right, Nigeria will benefit greatly. In the end, Nigeria will benefit, and victory will be ours,” he said.

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