Sports
Retired NPFL Referee Joseph Okeke Carpets NRA Over Fitness Test, Calls For State Elections
Retired FIFA Badged Referee, Match commissioner and Businessman, Joseph Okeke has criticized Tade Azeez-led Nigerian Referees Association, NRA for their insensitivity in allowing Nigeria Football Federation, NFF to conduct fitness test for referees despite indemnities of the whistle professionals from last season not being cleared .
Joseph Okeke while speaking in his office in Abuja, made the statement following the announcement by NFF to conduct fitness test for the nation’s referees
“I can’t imagine that Tade Azeez-led board would sit back and allow fitness test to be conducted by Nigeria football federation referee department despite the indemnities of referees, match commissioners from last season not being paid by League Management Company, LMC now interim management Committee, IMC.
The erudite referee further called for a change in leadership structure of the NRA, saying the tenure of the current board at both the state and national levels, have expired
“I am not disappointed that Tade Azeez would have allowed this to happen because of his selfish interest by perpetrating himself in office knowing that his tenure has expired and has refused to call for election at both state and national levels
“It is time for referees to wake up and take back their association, if NRA failed to set machinery in motion for electoral committee to be set up in the next few days and elections to be conducted at both state and national levels,” he concluded
Nigeria referees and match commissioners have not been paid their accumulated indemnities from last season while a fitness test is being conducted for a new season where a referee is expected to pay a minimum of fifteen thousand naira not to to talk of the cost of travelling and other logistics.
Sports
Kukkiwon President Hails Popoola’s Impact on Nigerian Taekwondo, NTF Boss Celebrates One Year of Progress
The President of the Taekwondo Federation of Nigeria, Grand Master Tayo Popoola has received a letter of commendation from the president of Kukkiwon, Yun Ung- Suk, for her outstanding contribution to the development of the sport.
Grand Master Popoola was hailed for her consistent drive improving the game within a short time of her stewardship in the NTF and the dissemination of Taekwondo activities in Nigeria to the global space.
The commendation letter dated October 25, 2026, was personally signed by Kukkiwon President, Ung-Suk.
Popoola said the commendation came to her as a pleasant surprise.
“I did not see that coming but It is a good one not only for me but the entire federation. I did not do it alone and it is also a challenge to do much more in the days, weeks and months ahead. I thank all the board members and I am optimistic that we will do more for the athletes,” Popoola said.
Incidentally, it is just about one year in office for Grand Master Popoola who has recorded a string of successes in the federation including the National Open Trials in Abeokuta, the Africa Taekwondo Championship 2026 in Bamako Mali where Nigeria won several Medals, the first ever Micheal Opeyemi Bamidele National Taekwondo Championship which took place last month in Lagos and the recently held Korean Ambassador Cup in Abuja which also had in attendance the World Kukkiwon Demonstration team.
The demonstration team dazzled fans in Abuja with spectacular display only last weekend just as the para-athletes in taekwondo were duly classified by experts from the world body in preparation for the Los Angeles Olympics 2028.
“I want to thank the National Sports Commission for the support given to me and the entire NTF. Things can only get better,” Popoola stressed.
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