Former chairman of Kano state branch of the sports Writers Association of Nigeria, (SWAN), Malam Ado Salisu has appealed to the Nigerian Football Federation, NFF to as a matter of urgency to deploy the use of VAR in all Nigerian leagues.
Ado Salisu, who was also the former National Vice President Northwest of the SWAN said the call has become necessary in order to avert recent happenings in the on-going leagues across the country.
Salisu was reacting to the recent incident in a match involving Katsina United and Abia Warriors where the centre referee awarded a goal to the visitors and later cancelled it after consultation with other match officials in Katsina.
The former chairman of the Media and Publicly Committee of the Galadima soccer competition said, It is now time to senitise our league by doing what is done everywhere in the world so that our league will compete with the rest of the world.
Salisu was irked with what is happening in our league today as he said that, It is not good for the game. It is uncovering our lapses and inadequacies and it is not what the world, the fans, referees, players and all stakeholders want to see.
“NFF should have deployed the VAR in the first instance to help senitize the system and prepare our minds for the task ahead, from where we can proceed and proudly broadcast our matches live,” he explained.
Salisu added that this was what happened in Kano during the Pre-Season competition of Alhaji Dr Ibrahim Galadima (former NFA chairman and currently patron Nigeria Olympic Committee) football competition.
We, the organizers, first deployed the use of VAR and live streaming in the subsequent editions and the competition which makes it the most successful and transparent football competition in the history of football competition in Kano.
“Most recent events in Katsina United vs Abia Warriors match demonstrated what is being transmitted live via streaming in the Nigerian premier league. All hands must be on deck to ensure that our football activities are put on the right track for posterity and progress,” he explained.
While commending the leadership of NFF led by Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau for his commitment to ensure the growth of football game across the country, he urged him to redouble efforts in this direction.
Salisu said organizing seminars or workshops to referees on VAR will go a long way in improving the quality and standard of the Nigerian Football Leagues.