Fifa instructor decries lack of qualified whistlers in Busia
Busia Olympics Captain Edwin Namasaka receives a set of uniforms and other sports gear from Fifa referee instructor Margaret Omondi at County Stadium, Busia on January 10, 2019. PHOTO | GAETANO PESA |
What you need to know:
- The region has Margaret Omondi, referee instructor, and coach instructor Hillary Musindi yet lacks enough qualified referees and coaches.
- Omondi said that they need at least 80 qualified referees considering that there are many leagues and competitions in the county.
Fifa referee instructor Margaret Omondi has on Thursday decried shortage of qualified football referees in Busia County appealing to stakeholders to team and address the challenge.
Speaking at a a ceremony to award Busia County Football League winners at County Stadium, she said that the region was lucky to have her and Fifa coaches instructor Hillary Musindi yet they have very few qualified referees and coaches. “We should all sit together and brainstorm on this challenge and find a way of improving the game in the region,” she said.
She revealed that Busia County has only seven qualified referees. Among the seven, Agneta Itubo is the only Fifa-accredited referee while the other six officiate in the lower National Super League, Division One and Two leagues.
Omondi said that they need at least 80 qualified referees considering that there are many leagues and competitions in the county.
“In other counties students in secondary schools are trained referees, a feat that should be emulated in Busia,” she said.
Omondi called for discipline among players, technical bench and kit managers to raise the profile of the game as well as getting realistic chances of winning fair play awards. She warned referees who don jerseys of teams they adore will be disciplined.
