The FIFA Member Association (MA) Young Talent Refereeing Programme has successfully concluded at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence in Prampram, marking the end of an intensive training programme aimed at developing the next generation of elite match officials in Ghana.
The programme, organised by the Association (GFA) with support from FIFA, brought together promising young referees from across the country for several days of technical, practical and physical training under the guidance of FIFA instructors.
The closing ceremony was led by the GFA's Referees Manager, Alex Kotey, and Chairperson of the Referees Appointment Committee, Christine Ziga, who commended the participants for their commitment, discipline and eagerness to learn throughout the course.
The FIFA MA Young Talent Refereeing Programme forms part of FIFA's capacity-building initiatives designed to identify and nurture promising young match officials for elite-level officiating.
The programme also complements the Ghana Football Association's Catch Them Young Refereeing Policy, which was introduced to create a sustainable pathway for developing referees from the grassroots to the highest levels of the game.
Throughout the course, participants underwent classroom instruction, practical field sessions, fitness training and assessments, equipping them with the technical, tactical and physical competencies required to excel in modern football officiating.
The programme was conducted by FIFA Technical Instructor Essameldin Abdelfattah Hassan Abdelhamid of Egypt and FIFA Physical Instructor Boubakar Hannachi of Tunisia, who shared their expertise and international experience with the participants.
The successful completion of the FIFA MA Young Talent Refereeing Programme represents another important milestone in the GFA's efforts to strengthen refereeing standards and build a pipeline of talented match officials capable of officiating at domestic, continental and international competitions.
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