Abia Warriors organise seminar for players, officials on latest laws

Posted : 16 September 2023

Abia Warriors management has organised a seminar session for the players and officials of the club to enlighten them on the latest rules of the game preparatory to the beginning of the season.

The seminar which held at the basketball court of the Umuahia Township Stadium, had retired FIFA graded referee, Charles Nwokocha as the main resource person.

Declaring the seminar open, Chairman of the club, John Obuh said the seminar was to enlighten the players and officials on the new laws of the game.

``The most important thing is to know the laws of the game. The laws keep changing (from time to time) and you have to know them," the former national team Coach said.

According to him, the lectures would prepare the players adequately insisting that it was management's way of supporting the players and officials.

"This is to give you what I didn't have (when I was a player), it is to give you good preparation...I made a lot of promises to you and I will keep them... this is to encourage you to get results."

The facilitator of the seminar --Sir Charles Nwokocha, a retired international FIFA Referee and NFF Premier league match assessor who was assisted by some Nigeria referees had interactive sessions with the players and officials of the club.

Sir Charles Nwokocha took time to explain amendments to the laws of football which came into effect in July this year.

Recall that International Football Association Board (IFAB) made some amendments to the laws of football for the 2023/2024 season, and the seminar afforded the entire playing and non playing staff of Abia Warriors Football Club the opportunity to keep abreast of the amendments, which will act as a guide in the club's quest for glory in the upcoming Nigeria Premier Football League.

Mr Nwokocha stressed the need for stakeholders to know the amended laws.

"In the first place, football (law) is dynamic. It changes every time, and there's need for anybody who is a stakeholder to know exactly the going-ons especially the current development to meet the world standards."

He also implored players and officials to imbibe discipline in order not to have issues with match officials.

"When I started (my session during the seminar), I was so emphatic about discipline and if probably the technical crew imbibes discipline invariably, the players are going to follow suit. It is from the way the technical crew behave, that is exactly the way the players are going to behave.

"So, I want to urge that they should keep their cool, they cannot be playing and at the same time be referees.

``What they have to do is to make sure they do their own part while the referees do theirs, otherwise, it will spell doom for them because, the referees will not spare them based on current development of things."

The captain of the club Goodluck Ozioma shared the players gratitude.

"We are very happy to learn a lot on the new rules. As players we argue a lot (with match officials) because of the rules so, we need to know the amendments, and we promise to do more and adhere to the rules."

On his part, the head coach of Abia Warriors, Mr. Erasmus Onuh commended the facilitators for a job well done; expressing optimism that the knowledge acquired will go a long way to help the team.

Abia Warriors organise seminar for players, officials on latest laws

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