Ziga targets slot at World Cup

Respected female FIFA Referee, Christine Enyonam Ziga, has fixed her eyes on the FIFA World Cup and says she will work extremely hard to grab a slot in the stream of referees going to participate at the Mundial, next year.

“Like every purposeful referee, my dream is to officiate in the World Cup and though I know it would not come easy, I hope to work my fingers to the bone and get counted one day,” Referee Ziga told the Times Sports.

The 33-year-old experienced knight-of-the-whistle will be among dozens of referees and assistant referees selected across Africa to participate in the CAF Elite A Course which is expected to begin on October 1 in Cameroon, Yaoundé.

The one-week intensive programme which ends on October 8, has been designed to equip the referees with the technique, knowledge, flair and dexterity needed to enable them take part in big games at the continental and global stage.

“I hope to benefit a lot from the course and be on top of any game I handle at the big stage when given the opportunity,” she asserted.

Referee Ziga participated in the just-ended All Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville where she officiated in two women games, the first of which she was the fourth referee in the Nigeria-Congo tie before taking centre stage in the Nigeria-Cote d’Ivoire encounter.

According to the professional banker, who works with the National Investment Bank (NIB) in Accra, she was participating in the All Africa Games tournament for the first time and said it came with no pressure at all.

“Thankfully, there was no pressure on me at all. Instead, it came with great feeling. Indeed, I entered into the Games as a senior referee and I knew I had no option than to perform creditably,” she emphasised.

There are a couple of women football competitions next year including the African Women’s Cup of Nations, the FIFA Women Under-17 and Under-20 World Cup.

She was grateful to all who in diverse ways have supported her to get to this level.