LIBERIAN REFEREES OFF TO NIGERIA

                        Jerry Yekeh LFA Best Referee of the 2010/2011 season

by Pawala Janyan)

 – Four Liberian match officials left the Country for Nigeria yesterday to officiate the 2nd leg of the African U-20 Championship qualifiers between Nigeria U-20 and Tanzania U-20 this Sunday at the Ilorin Township Stadium. The four officials, appointed by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), are Jerry Yekeh, Anthony Dopoh, Elisha Johnson and Emmanuel Neewon. Yekeh, who was awarded LFA Best Referee of the 2010/2011 season, will serves as Centre Referee, while his colleagues, Dopoh, Johnson and Neewon will serve as first assistant, second assistant and reserve referees, respectively.

In an interview before their departure, Jerry Yekeh stated that he is grateful to God, the Almighty for the level of promotion in his life and also to the LFA and Referee Association for all their supports. “In recent time, I have officiated in so many African countries and I am very grateful to God and everyone for their supports, especially the FA and my association.

The Nigeria versus Tanzania match is part of the many challenges to come in my career and I am prepared fully to face them with God being my help. The involvement of Liberian match officials in continental activities really mean well for our football sector and it’s our hope that we the match officials can one day participate at the Continent biggest event as well as the World Cup. All we need is determination and hard work”, Yekeh explained.

Moucharaf Anjorin from Benin will be the Match Commissioner.

The match is part of the ongoing second round qualifiers for the 2013 U-20 Championship to be held in Algeria. The first leg ended 2-1 in favor of the young Nigerians in Dar es Salam on July 29, 2012 and a home victory or draw for the Flying Eagles (as the Nigeria U-20 team is nicknamed) against the Ngorogoro Heroes this weekend will automatically guarantee her a place in the final round of qualifiers for the 2013 event.

The winner from the Nigeria versus Tanzania fixture based on the aggregate will meet the winner from the South Africa versus Congo match in the final phase of qualifications, for a place at the eight-nation 18th African Youth Championship next year. Congo has a 3-point advantage after defeating her South African counterpart one goal to zero in Brazzaville last July.


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