Successes & Failures At Cooper Test

By Julu M. Johnson, Jr.

The FIFA Physical Fitness Test For Referees was held at the Samuel Kayon Doe Sports Complex in Paynesville on Sunday, September 17, 2006 among football referees.

Popularly known as the Cooper Test, over forty referees participated in the process.

There are nine FIFA badge (five assistant and four center) referees in all, yet not all them participated.

Two of the center referees in Patrick Paye and Sam Korti claimed to be sick. So, they did not partake.

Another center referee, Alphonso Nyanti, who is the Deputy Chief Referee of Liberia, failed in the 12 meters run, which is the most important event of the Cooper Test. He risks being dropped from the FIFA list next year.

From the list of the five FIFA badge assistant referees, only Buster Snyder, Sylvester Johnson, Exodus Flanjay and Augustine Gooding took part and finished with flying colors, while Joseph Kollie did not take part due to medical advice.

Assistant Referee Gooding ran well ahead of his colleagues and was followed by Snyder, Flanjay and Johnson.

It was gathered that FIFA sees fitness as 65 percent of refereeing in that referees need to be physically fit to judge incidence.

Former FIFA badge referee, Ebenezer Stanley Konah, who was dropped last year for being unfit, did not take the test for unknown reasons.

The test was impressive for some national referees with Lamine Kamara, Alex Nagbe and Samuel Tarplain passing all the events.

In the female category, Roseline Tweh topped, followed by Vivian Howard and Ophelia Doeway.

Jebeh Johnson could not continue the race because she dropped and an ambulance was quickly called to treat her.

County Referee Emmanuel Neewon dominated the whole Cooper Test. In the 12 minutes race, he covered 3,400 meters though the test required 2,700 meters.

According to the various categories, Benedict Yarsiah led the FIFA center referees, Augustine Gooding topped the FIFA assistant referees, Alex Nagbe triumphed among the National Referees, Emmanuel Neewon was the most impressive County Referee as Roseline Tweh became the most impressive female referee.

The Referee Standing Committee of the Liberia Football Association (LFA) is expected to release the official results this week and submit same to the LFA Executive Committee.

The test was witnessed by LFA Vice Presidents Pennoh Bestman and Adolph Lawrence, Deputy Sports Minister Marbue Richards as well as LFA Secretary-General George Williams.

Some veteran referees such as Alex Nagbo, Spencer Harris, Jacob Jeetoe and Ausbon O. Reeves were in attendance.

Mighty Barrolle boss Garmondeh Karnga, Zelor President Melvin Sogbandi and former LFA Executive Committee Member, James Jallah also witnessed the Cooper Test.