BADMINTON: Nigerian Umpire Breaks 20 Years Certification Drought Amidst Covid-19 Pandemic
Expressing joy and immense satisfaction on the matter of the upgrade, the President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) ...
Expressing joy and immense satisfaction on the matter of the upgrade, the President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) ...
A Nigerian Badminton Umpire Naomi Adeoyin Oyinloye has defiled the rampaging sorrow and unrest which the Covid-19 has been serving the sporting world globally to put cheers on the faces of Nigerians and the Badminton Community in Nigeria.
Naomi Adeoyin Oyinloye, broke a 20-year certification drought in the Nigerian Badminton Federation to become the first Nigerian to be upgraded since 2000 when a group of 5 Nigerian umpires were last certificated at the All Africa Senior Championships in Bauchi.
Her certification followed the BCA Umpires Assessment which took place in Casablanca, Morocco during the All African Games in August, 2019, after which she was officially upgraded to Badminton Confederation of Africa (BCA) Certificated Umpire.
A letter dated April 9, 2020 and addressed to NAOMI ADEOYIN OYINLOYE with the title BCA CERTIFICATED UMPIRE and duly signed by the Secretary-General of the BCA Mr Sahir Edoo came C/O Badminton Federation of Nigeria, Ministry of Youth of Sports, Package B, National Stadium, Abuja-Nigeria and conveyed the message.
Expressing joy and immense satisfaction on the matter of the upgrade, the President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) Francis Orbih, Esq. said “it was one of the major thing we wanted to achieve when the board gave the nod for the commencement of series of Umpires Training courses which started in Abuja in 2018”.
He said the BFN has always believed that the growth of the game is not just about the development of the players, but should also encompass the development of the technical department of the game. In line with the administration’s policies, plans are in the pipeline to develop and upgrade the coaches as well. He said the overall development of these sectors of the game is a continuous exercise that cannot be over emphasised.
He said the board under his leadership will leave no stone unturned in achieving these noble objectives. “These, among other crucial areas are what we will like to see firmly in place to justify the confidence that various stakeholders in the game have reposed in us”.
Miss Naomi Oyinloye is a product of the umpires training courses conducted by the Francis Orbih-led BFN. She was invited together with Adebayo George Ilori by the BCA to be part of the officiating officials at the All African Games in Morocco.
Adebayo Ilori was invited as a Referee and Miss Oyinloye as an Umpire. Adebayo Ilori is also being encouraged to pursue the BCA Referee certification by the BFN. Their invitation to the All African Games was unprecedented in African Badminton umpiring history.