By Isaac Eranga
Benin City: A seasoned Premier League Match Commissioner with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF)- Pst. (Dr.) Ikpomwonsa Cliff Ediae, said for Edo State Referees to record superlative performance in the 2019/2020 football season that is ongoing, there was need for them to strive for excellence.
Dr. Ediae said this while speaking on a topic titled: A Fresh Start, during a one-day fasting and prayer program organised recently by the Edo State Football Referees Council, held at the indoor Sports Hall of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City. He explained excellence as a state of possessing good qualities in high degree; exalted merit; and superiority in virtue. He said striving towards excellence will help eliminate errors in the field of play.
Dr. Ediae reiterated that achieving excellence can only be possible when they cry to God for help. He cited the blind beggar named Bartimmaeus (son of Timaeus) in the Book of Mark 10:46-52, who cried to Jesus for help, and he got it.
“Blind Bartimaeus stood up and met Jesus. He cast away his garment (garment of shame, hopelessness, poverty, sickness, rejection, etc.). God gave the blind man a fresh start of vision and opportunities.
“To have a fresh start, you must cry to God like the blinds Bartimaeus”, Dr. Ediae said.
The cleric also gave an example of the adultrous woman in John 8:2-11, whom Jesus did not condemn but gave her opportunity for a fresh start.
Speaking, the Chairman of Edo Football Referees Council- Mr. Johnbull Nosa Okundolor thanked members for coming to the prayer program and urged all members to have a fresh start by pooling their efforts together in a bid to taking the State Council to enviable height.
“In 2019, all our Premier League Referees passed their fitness test, while the Nigeria National League Referees scored 90 percent in their fitness test. We also scored 90 percent in the Nigeria Referees Association (NRA) National Promotional Examination. But this year, we shall beat the above record. We also hosted the South/South NRA meeting”, Mr. Okundolor said.
Those that attended the meeting include the First Vice President of NRA- Rtr. Faith Irabor, FIFA retired, Chairman of the State Council- Mr. Johnbull Nosa Okundolor, Secretary General of the Council- Mr. Roland Temigbe, one time Chairman of the Council- SP Taiwo Osawe FIFA retired, First Vice Chairman of the Council- Pst. Isaac Ighodaro, Elder Emmanuel Otobrise FIFA retired, PRO of the Council- Pst. Dr. Isaac Eranga, Chairman of Benin Referees Society- Mr Jonathan Nodolomwanyi, Pst. Dr. Cliff Ediae, and many others.
