UNIFFAC Referees Sharpen Skills for the Global Stage
The Union of Central African Football Federations (UNIFFAC) is currently hosting a training workshop for match officials from the sub-region in Douala, Cameroon.
This intensive session is led by the renowned Cameroonian instructor, Evehe Divine Raphaël, whose mission is to impart his expertise and significantly raise the standard of match officials.
Bridging the Gap: The Need for Fundamental Training
Evehe Divine Raphaël believes this training is crucial for the future of Central African football. He notes that the current level of the participating officials is “average,” highlighting a need to reinforce core competencies.
“The current level of these referees is average, and we find that there are many fundamentals that need to be perfected and transmitted,” he explains. “This level can be explained by the fact that the work is not intense and permanent within the member federations. So this is an opportunity for us to work with these referees so that they acquire these fundamentals when they get to elite CAF competitions.”
The goal is clear: provide the officials with the foundational knowledge and rigor necessary to excel in high-stakes matches on the continental stage.
A Vision for Excellence: Taking UNIFFAC to the World Level
Mr. Raphaël’s ambition is crystal clear: to see Central African referees emerge as true competitors, capable of rivalling those from other African sub-regions and officiating in the world’s most prestigious tournaments.
He stresses that achieving this level requires consistency in training, rigor in supervision, and mutual trust between the instructors and the officials.
His message to the participants is one of motivation and unwavering confidence: “I ask them to have faith in the instructors around them and to keep working. I believe that in the coming days we will also have a workshop for the instructors, and we will exchange a lot to develop refereeing in our zone.”
Mefire Abdou’s Inspiring Rise emulates hope for the region
To encourage the young referees, the Cameroonian instructor points to tangible successes, particularly that of Mefire Abdou. A young referee who emerged from the UNIFFAC zone, Abdou is now making significant progress on the international scene.
“He is a source of pride,” Raphael beams. “We saw him, we believed in him, and we told ourselves that we weren’t doing this work for nothing. We won’t say it’s us, but it’s him first: he had the will and that drive to succeed. We were only there to guide and support him.”
Abdou’s journey serves as a powerful reminder that dedication and strong guidance can pave the way to global recognition.
Fostering a Culture of Continuous Development
With this workshop, UNIFFAC is laying the groundwork for a structured and lasting approach to referee development. The instructors, under Evehe Divine Raphaël’s leadership, aim not only to strengthen the officials’ current skills but also to instill a culture of permanent, rigorous training throughout the zone.
Through these concerted initiatives, Central African refereeing hopes to cross a decisive threshold. The ultimate goal is to see its representatives regularly take the pitch in the greatest competitions organized by CAF, FIFA, and other major world tournaments in the near future.
Key quotes
Mefire Abdou, FIFA referee of Cameroonian origin
The initiative is commendable because those of us who came before didn’t have the opportunity to participate in this kind of training. I can only advise them to take full advantage and showcase their qualities.
There are only two things: hard work and the advice of our elders, as this guidance helps us progress.
René Daniel Louzaya, member of the UNIFFAC Referees Commission
It’s true that it’s not always easy to close that gap, but we are firmly convinced that it will be closed.
This is what needs to be done. They are prepared for this and are sharing their expertise and experience with the referees, and I believe the objective will be achieved.
The message I convey to these referees is to make the most of this training session to harmonize the interpretation and application of the Laws of the Game on the field, so that we can have more referees in CAF competitions in the future.
Jean Guy Blaise Mayolas, President of UNIFFAC
These young referees have a great opportunity to have with them not only referees with extensive on-field experience but also trainers who possess expertise in knowledge transfer. This is a unique chance, and everyone must take full advantage of it.
They are in the hands of experts who will guide them, both based on their field experience and their training expertise. Such an opportunity is rare, and everyone must get the best out of it.
Ahmad Muisse Ngah Noah, Director of Development and Representative of the UNIFFAC President
These young referees have a great opportunity to have with them not only referees with extensive on-field experience but also trainers who have great experience in training. This is an opportunity to benefit from this, as they are in expert hands that will guide them, based not only on their on-field experiences but also on their experience in knowledge transfer. I believe there is no opportunity quite like this, and everyone must make the most of these experiences.
Okolonene Mavie Michel Vanie, Congolese Assistant Referee
For us, this training brings us a lot because it is a first for UNIFFAC, and we are delighted. I thank UNIFFAC for this organization.
Nkemazem Vincent, Cameroonian assistant referee
I would like to thank the Referees Commission of Cameroon and the Cameroon Football Federation. I am delighted to be part of this session, as it will enhance my knowledge of the game. We’ve already started with the theoretical part, which will boost our understanding of the game.
