Sierra Leone News: WAFRA Certifies Referees

By Desmond Tune Coker

Western Area Football Referees Association (WAFRA) in collaboration with the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) has on Wednesday July 24, 2019, certified a new batch of referees at a well-attended ceremony at the Presidential Lounge, Siaka Steven Stadium, Freetown.

Over 35 referees mostly young boys and girls have been recruited, and added into the class three category of the country’s professional referees system.

According to the Chairman of Western Area Referees Association, a total of five (5) referees are expected to depart from Sierra Leone in August 2019 for a FIFA beginners and advanced Referee Instructor Course (FUTURO III) in Rwanda.

He said that this development is unprecedented in the country’s referees association.

He further stated that as a way of improving our referees, Ibrahim Bah from Tonkolili District has been invited by CAF to officiate in the final tournament of the All African Games in Morocco 2019, from the 16th to the 30th August this year. Bah who is only 25 years is believed to be the youngest referee to ever participate in such a tournament.

Some of the participants who received certificate thanked the Referees Association for the training, as the training will help them greatly in improving their ability to officiate matches.

The General Secretary of the Sierra Leone Football Association, Christopher Kamara congratulated all certified young referees for job well down. He cautioned them about match fixing as one thing that hinder referees worldwide. “But I know this set of new referees will uphold the integrity of the profession and maintain professionalism,” he said.