SW Regional League: FECAFOOT 4th Vice president donates to referees.

The distribution exercise kicked off on Tuesday April 11 at the head office of the South West Bureau of FECAFOOT.

The donated items which include referees uniforms were handed to the beneficiaries by Henry Njalla Quan II.

40 of the 80 referees who were enlisted to benefit from the donation went home with one complete kit of uniform each, with the benefactor announcing that the 40 others will have their own kits during the first week of May. 

The football administrator said it is part of his responsibility to improve on the performance of the referees and to encourage the growth of the game in the region.

According to Njalla Quan Jnr, the initiative to offer the material support to the referees was nursed during a meeting in October 2022 to evaluate the 2021/2022 football season in the region.

“We took the the commitment to better the working condition of football actors in the region-including referees. Without referees, there will be no championship” the football administrator said.

He went further to add: “I have first mission which is to develop football in my region and referees are part of the development plan. We have big plans to rebrand the league, source for sponsorship and we can’t succeed if we have a league where referees dress haphazardly during matches. These are little things we must do”. 

He urged them to show professionalism and give out their best both on and off the pitch.

Corrupt practices to be severely dealt with

Addressing referees during the event to hand them kits, Henry Njalla Quan II warned that acts of corruption involving match officials in the regional league this season will be dealt with severely.

Njalla Quan Jnr said he understands that sometimes, the referees are being pressured by even FECAFOOT officials and club presidents to influence the outcome of matches, but he has appealed to them to stick to ethics.

“If in your young career, you start indulging in bribe taking, you won’t go far. By indulging in such, you are giving the region, my management, leadership a bad name. If referees in the South West are involved in acts of corruption, will be the first person to be blamed” Njalla Quan Junior said.

To him, “the refereeing corps in this region should grow and we want to have more referees from the South West at the national level,”.

His caution and warning comes at the time the South West Regional League at one moment became a laughing stock in terms of refereeing, with some match officials accused of openly playing in favour of some clubs.

The referees were presented two documents; an undertaking which they have to sign to stay clear of corrupt practices and a letter of resignation for those who see the conditions of the undertaking as being too tough for them.    

“I have before me two documents. The first is an undertaking to stay away from corruption, denounce it and report club officials who approached you to fixed matches. The second is a resignation letter”.

Njalla Quan II has promised to reward match officials who respect the ethics and regulations of the beautiful game and also denounce those who approach them to influence the outcome of matches in the league.

Beneficiaries laud Njalla Quan Jnr’s gesture

Match officials who benefitted from the donation saluted the move taken by the FECAFOOT official.

The recipients thanked Njalla Quan Jnr for his support and promised to give out their best to ensure a successful campaign.

The high grade materials they unanimously accepted, will go a long way in helping in the promotion and progress of football development in the region.

“I’m very happy for this equipment and I can’t thank President Njalla Quan enough. This will serve as a motivation to others,’ Kolla Maxwell said.

“I’m mostly happy because this gesture by the 4th Vice President shows his willingness to give back to the society and he hasn’t forgotten where he’s coming from. With this kind of sense of responsibility he will definitely get to the pinnacle of football administration in the world,’ Ngwah Ngong Pascal stated.

The donation to referees in the South West Regional League isn’t the first gesture by Njalla Quan to support football in the region. In the past he has offered support to clubs and the media.

The event held in the presence of the President of the South West Regional League of FECAFOOT, Ndazeh Valery Nchiakeh, Secretary General, Agbor Besong Joseph among others.