Catch Them Young Policy Reaches New Milestone with FIFA Refereeing Course
The Ghana Football Association’s (GFA) Catch Them Young Refereeing Policy received another major boost with the successful conclusion of the FIFA Member Association (MA) Young Talent Refereeing Programme at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence in Prampram.
The FIFA-backed initiative brought together some of Ghana’s most promising young referees for an intensive development programme aimed at preparing the next generation of elite match officials.
Over several days, participants underwent rigorous classroom sessions, practical on-field training, fitness drills and technical assessments designed to enhance their decision-making, game management and physical conditioning in line with modern officiating standards.
The programme was delivered by FIFA Technical Instructor Essameldin Abdelfattah Hassan Abdelhamid of Egypt and FIFA Physical Instructor Boubakar Hannachi of Tunisia, who shared international best practices and guided the referees through advanced training modules.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, GFA Referees Manager Alex Kotey and Chairperson of the Referees Appointment Committee Christine Ziga praised the young officials for their discipline, commitment and willingness to embrace the demands of elite refereeing.
The FIFA MA Young Talent Refereeing Programme forms part of FIFA’s global referee development strategy, helping Member Associations identify and nurture talented officials capable of progressing to the highest levels of the game.
For the GFA, the initiative aligns directly with its Catch Them Young Refereeing Policy, a long-term programme designed to create a sustainable pathway for identifying, mentoring and developing referees from the grassroots through to the Ghana Premier League, CAF competitions and eventually the FIFA international stage.
The successful completion of the programme represents another significant step in Ghana’s efforts to strengthen refereeing standards by investing in young talent, ensuring the country continues to produce match officials capable of excelling on both the continental and global stage.
