Executive Council member Gideon Fosu, on Thursday, June 6, 2024, opened the FIFA Male Young Talent course for Referees at the Ghanaman Soccer Center of Excellence in Prampram.
Thirty-five young referees from the "Catch Them Young Refereeing" project of the Ghana Football Association are participating in this capacity building program championed by the Federation Internationale de Football Associations (FIFA) which runs from 5th-10th June, 2024.
The selected young boys are Referees and Assistant Referees who have officiated in the KGL Inter-regional Championship and Division One League Super Cup matches over the years.
Two FIFA Instructors will run the course in conjunction with a team of Ghanaian Instructors. Technical Instructor Carlos Henriques and Fitness Instructor Mohamed Houssein have joined 5 other Technical Instructors and three Fitness Instructors from Ghana to deliver instruction to the Course participants.
Opening the Course, Gideon Fosu, on behalf of the President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and the Executive Council, outlined how dear the young referees are to the FA.
“On behalf of the President of the GFA and the Executive Council, I declare this course duly opened,” he stated.
“These Catch Them Young Referees are very dear to our President in particular and the Executive Council, in general. We believe in you (the young referees) because you are the ones who will come and change the Refereeing narrative in the country,” he added.
He went on to thank FIFA for the Course, welcomed the Instructors and urged the young Referees to aim high in their chosen field.
“We are very grateful to FIFA for this Young Referees Course and even more grateful to Carlos, Houssein and to all the instructors for ensuring this becomes a success."
“I am here to encourage you, on behalf of the President, and also to tell you the importance of the journey you have started today. You started the journey long ago but today’s program is special and so you must know your journey to the top has started; you must, therefore, work hard,” he added.
The 35 young referees will undergo technical skill training as well as theoretical sessions to prepare them for their professional careers.
Head of the Referees Department of the GFA, Alex Kotey, is the Course Coordinator and has expressed optimism that the course will improve the skills of the young Referees and their appreciation for their profession.
In the long term, it is the belief of the GFA leadership that Courses of this nature shall improve the quality of Refereeing in Ghana.
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