Renowned FIFA badge referee Grema Mohammed was on hand to monitor and guide young referees officiating at the ongoing Borno State Under-17 Football Competition.

Mohammed, the only FIFA referee in the state, acknowledged the organisers’ efforts in providing a platform for aspiring young footballers to showcase their talents and potentially become future stars.

He emphasised the importance of such competitions, highlighting that every superstar began their journey somewhere similar.

Mohammed urged the young referees to strictly adhere to the rules, regulations, and laws of the game.

Alhaji Abba Adamu, Director of Talent and Search for the Borno State Sports Council and a member of the organising committee, expressed his gratitude to Mohammed and the Borno State Council of Referees, led by Babagana Bunu, for their unwavering support of the match officials throughout the competition.

Adamu commended the officiating officials for their skillful use of the whistle and their ability to maintain control of the matches peacefully.

The Borno State Council of Referees boasts over a hundred registered referees who officiate at various football competitions across the state. This shows the Borno State Sports Council’s commitment to nurturing and developing local officiating talents alongside budding footballers.

The Borno Under-17 Football Competition was established to discover and develop young football talents in the state. .By investing in youth football, the competition seeks to contribute to the state’s sports development and potentially produce future stars for Nigerian football.