Teenage referee Ojilong thrilled by CAF young referees course

Uganda’s teenage referee, Elly Jabeth Ojilong, has taken a significant step forward in his football officiating career by earning a CAF young referees training certificate.

Ojilong was among 21 young referees selected from various African countries to attend a three-day clinic held in Cairo, Egypt, last month. The 18-year-old, who recently returned from this unique training, expressed how it has broadened his understanding of modern refereeing techniques.

“Based on the skills I acquired, this has opened my mind to understanding modern refereeing techniques and made officiating simpler for me. It will help me more in pursuing my dreams,” Ojilong said.

Jabeth Ojilong (red) with other young referees during the CAF young referees course in Cairo

During their time in Cairo, the young referees participated in specialized sessions covering topics such as integrity in football, game positioning, game management, and an introduction to Video Assistant Referee (VAR) basics.

The invitation for these young match officials aligns with the CAF refereeing department’s broader strategy to develop world-class referees across Africa, capable of officiating at the highest levels both continentally and globally.

Ojilong was joined by four other young referees from the CECAFA region: Ishimwe Rolande Cressy of Burundi, Omar Hassan Ibrahim from Djibouti, Rwanda’s Kevine Tuyihimbaze, and Habibi Habibu Hamad of Tanzania.

Ojilong (L) and another trainee during the course

The course was conducted by CAF technical and tactical instructors Jammy Sikazwe of Zambia, Dia Fadouma of Senegal, and Mohamed Sayed Ismail Emam from Egypt. It was supervised by CAF staff members Mamadou Haidara, Jean Claude Birumushahu, Doue Noumandiez, and CAF referees committee member Adjovi Alain Hugues of Benin.

In May this year, Ojilong was named on the 21-man list of young referees who officiated at the second edition of the CAF Schools Championship held at Amaan Stadium, Zanzibar.

Despite his young age, Ojilong has already officiated Uganda Premier League and FUFA Big League matches, high-profile Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA) matches, and CECAFA junior championships, among others.

Ojilong, the son of Samuel Ojilong and Caroline Amoding from Kadok Village in Ngora District, is currently in Senior 5 at Amus College School, where he studies BCM. His travel costs to Cairo were jointly covered by Amus College proprietor Patrick Isiagi, FUFA, and CAF.