The Red Bull Soccer Academy based at Sogakope in the Volta Region has launched a financial assistance programme for the benefit of the Vota Regional branch of the Referees Association of Ghana at Ho.
The Academy over the weekend presented GH 500.00 to the referees association during their regional annual physical fitness test to support the technical and physical development of referees in the region.
This year's three-day annual fitness test under the auspices of seasoned Ghana Football Association Technical Team attracted about 120 young and dynamic referees, assistant referees and match commissioners who will be eligible to officiate in the 2009 Premier and Division One football league matches in the country. They were taken through the laws of the game, methods of interpretation and intensive physical exercise.
Presenting the amount on behalf of the Academy, the Chairman of Volta Regional Football Association, Mr Francis Dogbatse said it is the fundamental and moral obligation for those who have to assist wherever it can in the development of sports.
"From our point of view, the challenges facing referees and assistant referees are intimidating. The demands are consequently very high. You have to keep the players under control, judge offside during an attack, keep up the momemtum of the game among the usual duties in matches". he said.
He said the Academy feels that referees were the main stakeholders in football, that was why they wanted to invest in their capacity building, adding that since the failure or success the game depended on referees, it is important that they are resourced to improve on their abilities.
Receiving the amount, the Chairman of the regional branch of the RAG, Mr Harry Atutornu, was hopeful that the sponsorship package would help to fulfill the development proirities set by the association in future.
He advised referees to take their officiating work seriously since training before and during matches was crucial for ensuring that one kept in tune and out of trouble in order to improve on standards.
"As referees you will be judged by thousands of eyes through television cameras, demanding absolute accuracy in your decisions without much consideration to any short-comings in future tournaments", he cautioned.
In his welcome address, the Volta Regional Sports Deveopment Officer, Mr, Gabriel Missodey asked referees to uplift the good name of soccer by being fair, firm but flexible in their decisions on the field of play.
He told them not to expect everybody to be happy with their judgements.
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