Having made history with the introduction and successful application of Video Assisted Referee (VAR) at the ongoing Federation Africain Du Sport Universitaire, (FASU), the Managing Director of Molab and Sons Nigeria Limited, Omolabi Ambali believes his team’s exploit can be replicated in the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL).
Speaking with Theliberationnews after the 3rd Place Match between one of the host universities, Lagos State University (LASU) and Federal University of Ekiti, Oye-Ekiti, Ambali noted that the technology revolutionized the competition thereby ensuring fair-play and enhancing accuracy in decision-making during the football matches.
Ambali expressed optimism that his team could replicate the feat in the Nigerian Professional Football League, if given the chance.
“We are glad to have successfully shown that VAR could be used effectively in footballing competition in Africa, Nigeria in particular. We’ve just demonstrated that with football matches in FASU,” he enthused.
The ICT expert continued: “I must admit that it took us some time to put this together because we worked tirelessly to ensure that everything works out perfectly. Throughout the matches, the competing team and their players showed confidence in the officiating and had great experience. We could not have achieved this feat without the support of the high-performing Vice Chancellor of Lagos State University (LASU), Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello who provided us with the needed technical aid and logistics.
Although the President of the Nigerian Football Federation, NFF, Ibrahim Misa Gusau recently announced plans to introduce VAR in the Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL, Ambali made it known that his company is ever-ready to provide the needed expertise for the seamless application.
“Our achievement has just shown that VAR can successfully be used in NPFL and our company is ready to render our service when called upon. It’s high time the league conformed with global standard as far as officiating is concerned,” he said.
The ongoing competition which began on Saturday, September 21 will end on Sunday, September 29 and it is being jointly hosted by LASU and University of Lagos.
This is the second time Nigeria will host it since its inception in 1974.
Having first hosted it at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Bauchi in 2004, Nigeria is the first nation to have two universities jointly serving as host.
