The Borno State Football Club Owners Association (BOFCOA) has pledged to implement reforms aimed at boosting the standard of football in the state.
This commitment was made during a seminar/workshop held on Thursday for the North East Development Commission (NEDC) competition at the El-Kanemi Warriors Sport Complex in Maiduguri.
The event was themed ‘Law of the Game, Match Procedures, and Security Challenges in Local Competition’.
Ibrahim Mohammed, the Chairman of BOFCOA, stated that the reforms will focus on key areas such as accountability and transparency.
He believes these reforms will help the association earn the respect and confidence of the people of Borno State.
“We want to make sure that our operations are transparent and accountable and that we earn the respect and confidence of the people of Borno,” Mohammed said.
He also expressed his gratitude to the workshop participants and urged them to apply the knowledge gained to improve football standards in the state. “We pray for a successful tournament,” he added.
The workshop featured in-depth discussions on the latest football rules and changes, including crucial aspects like handball, penalties, and substitutions. These sessions were led by seasoned referee Ali Wulari.
Babagoni Grema, a former FA Secretary, emphasised the importance of sound club management. He highlighted essential elements such as planning, objective setting, forecasting, resource allocation, budgeting, monitoring, and evaluation.
Grema advised that every football club should have a well-defined structure and a constitution to guide its activities.
Amb. Danjuma Ibrahim, President of the Borno Veterans Football Association, stressed the significance of fair play and security in football matches.
He cautioned participants against bribery and emphasised the need to respect referees’ decisions and opponents at all times.
“Fair play is fundamental when it comes to football,” Ibrahim stated. “It’s about following the rules and regulations of the game. You must respect the referee’s decision and respect your opposition at any time.”
Abubakar Abdulazeez (Bolori), a member of the organising committee, provided details about the format of the upcoming NEDC tournament.
According to Bolori, the tournament will feature 48 teams, divided into six groups of eight teams each. In the first round, each team will play seven matches.
He also announced that pre-match meetings will be held a day before each game, and all participating teams are required to send representatives.
Bolori further informed participants that due to the prevailing harsh weather conditions in the state, games initially scheduled for 2:00 PM in the first week of the competition will be rescheduled.
The tournament is scheduled to kick off on April 27, 2025, with an opening ceremony and a match between Eagle Star and Shehu Central at Ramat Square (Filin Sakuwa) at 4:00 PM.
The workshop was attended by officials from all registered clubs, and it aimed to educate them on the new rules, regulations, and key components of the tournament.
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