By Tony Adibe
The Rangers International Football Club Foundation has advised 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 the call in Enugu during a lecture he delivered at the meeting of members of the Enugu State Referees Council held at Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu at the weekend.
NewsBits reports that the theme of the lecture was, “Treasure Your Mental Health”.
Delivering the lecture, 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 and implementations of the laws of the game.
He said: “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 overemphasised 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 explained the triggers to negative emotions and its management, stressing that negative emotions could make them to lose control and equally bow to the 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.
