Soccer News of Monday, 12 March 2007

Source: GNA

Fit Agbovi set for the centre stage

(By Veronica Commey: GNA Special Correspondent in Togo; courtesy Ministry of Education, Science and Sports)

Lome, March 12, GNA - William Agbovi, Ghana's sole referee at the ongoing African U-17 Championship is set to take the centre stage when the tourney enters the second day on Tuesday. The referee, a late invitee by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) passed a fitness test on Saturday and is scheduled to handle one of the Group A matches slated for Tuesday.

The GNA Sports can confirm that the FIFA referee Agbovi who was initially overlooked but later called to replace a referee who failed a fitness test amazed the organizers with his level of fitness. The former Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) Referee of the Year was said to have lasted a lot more runs than expected during the test.

The exact match he will handle is expected to be known by close of the day.

Ref. Agbovie is expected to officiate in either the game involving host, Togo and Gabon or Tunisia against South Africa.

Agbovi has been touted as one of the finest Ghanaian referees with great potentials to break grounds on the international scene. He has dominated the Ghanaian league since early 2000 where he was the preferred choice for tough and envisaged controversial duels of the Premier League.

Agbovi was once adjudged the best referee by the Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA) after a near to perfection performance at the lucrative Top Four tournament.