The Referees Association of Ghana (RAG) has held a day’s ‘high intensity fitness test’ for referees at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, to select those to officiate in the various league divisions for the 2016/2017 season.
The participants, numbering over 60, were drawn from the Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo and Eastern Regions.
The exercise is a mandatory yearly programme, sanctioned by FIFA – the world’s football governing body, to assess the physical and psychological readiness of referees, chosen to officiate matches.
A team of medical professionals from the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) were present to thoroughly examine them for heart, chest and eye-related diseases.
They were also taken through rigorous physical exercise including going round the pitch 10 times, running a distance of 75 metres in 15 seconds, and walking a distance of 25 metres in 20 seconds.
Mr. Joe Debrah, a National Executive Member of RAG, told the GNA Sports, that they were determined to make sure, referees met the required standards.
This, he said, was the way forward to assure everybody that the referees were up to the task.
“It was important that they were in good psychological and physical condition for the success of the various leagues,” he added.
–
Source: GNA