‘Do not neglect your mental health, -Ranges club boss, Amaraizu tells football referees

By, Chinelo Kodilichukwu, Enugu

The Rangers International Football Club Foundation has urged football referees to pay attention to their mental health as it holds the key to sound decision making, while officiating matches.

The Chairman of the foundation, Coach Ebere Amaraizu, made this call while delivering a lecture at the meeting of members of the Enugu State Referees Council, held at Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu state, at the weekend.

Amaraizu identified mental health as essential aspect of health that “is not supposed to be neglected because of its importance and connectivity to mindset and emotions, which controls the entire body.”

He reminded referees of the crucial roles they play in the football pitch in terms of decision making, interpretation annd implementations of the laws of the game.

According to him, I urge you to always pay attention to the state of your mental health by treasuring it all the time.

“As football arbiters, the need to stay healthy mentally cannot be overemphasized because of the fact that you will be required to make analysis, interpretations and decisions; and these are anchored on your state of mental healthiness,” he said.

He explained to the triggers to negative emotions and its management; adding that negative emotions could make them to loose control and equally bow to pressures of regrettable actions.

Earlier, the Project Manager of Cope and Live Mental Health Awareness Foundation, Mr. Kennedy Okoro, informed referees about many services undertaken by the foundation.

Okoro said that the services included: strategic engagement on mental health, counselling as well as management of stress and emotions for better performance.

Responding, FIFA-badged Referee, Patience Madu, who attended the meeting, appreciated the lecture and thanked Rangers Foundation and Cope and Live Mental Health Foundation for the gesture.

Madu requested for more lectures to deepen awareness on mental health by football referees in the state.

The theme of the lecture was “Treasure Your Mental Health”.