Kickoff (Cape Town)
2 September 2008
Top Nigerian referees failed last week's Cooper Test conducted in Abuja as they prepared themselves for the new season.
Top amongst the referees who could not make it are Alex Mana and James Odeniran, both FIFA badged referees.
Alex Mana was the Center Referee in last season's FA Cup final between Ocean Boys and Gombe United while Odeniran was in charge when Enyimba played against Ocean Boys in the FA Cup semi final in Owerri.
Another referee who failed the Cooper Test is Philip Afam who became popular last season when he passed out and nearly died during the match between Enyimba and Bayelsa United in Aba.
Two women referees did not take the test and have been ruled out for the next football season; Bola Abidoye and Bola Sekitiri exempted themselves having provided medical reports.
The Cooper Test is a physical fitness test every referee must pass to be able to be part of the new football season or to be able to be or remain on the FIFA list.
The referees are supposed to do 10 laps in 33 minutes but in a run- walk sequence.
They dash the first 150 meters, walk 50 until they complete ten laps in 33 minutes.
Alex Mana, James Odeniran, Philip Afam, Bola Jegede and Bola Sekitiri have thus been ruled out of the 2008/ 2009 football season and will have to be strip of their FIFA badges.
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