Referees' head emphasises crucial changes to offside law in 2023/24 FKFPL season

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FKFPL Referees' head emphasises crucial changes to offside law in 2023/24 FKFPL season

Festus Chuma 10:24 - 22.08.2023

Over 100 match officials start pre-season training, including physical tests and rule updates.

In a bid to ensure top-notch officiating in the upcoming 2023/24 season, 114 match officials and 45 match commissioners hailing from the FKF Premier League and FKF Women Premier League have embarked on a comprehensive three-day pre-season Physical Endurance Test (PET) training at the renowned Kasarani Stadium.

The training kicked off on Monday, August 21, with a focus on refining the officials' physical capabilities, along with crucial updates to the laws of the game.

One key aspect that is in the spotlight this year is the offside rule, which FKF Referees Manager Sylvester Kirwa has shed light on.

On the opening day of the intensive program, the officials underwent an array of rigorous endurance and agility drills aimed at evaluating and enhancing their physical readiness for the demanding season ahead.

Beyond physical fitness, the match officials also underwent thorough medical assessments to ensure they are in prime condition to officiate league matches.

A statement from the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) website said that as the training progresses, the focus will shift to updating the officials on the modifications to the laws of the game for the 2023/24 season.

Kirwa, a seasoned figure in football officiating, highlighted the significance of forthcoming changes to the offside law.

"Some of the changes we should anticipate relate to the offside law. Yearly, we encounter issues with this law, and FIFA is actively working to enhance its clarity and simplicity. This aims to make it more accessible for referees to interpret the modifications in the fundamental offside rule," explained Kirwa.

The PET training program is under the expert guidance of a team led by Sylvester Kirwa, alongside Stephen Oduor, Dorcas Moraa, Moses Osano, and Tabitha Njoroge.

In a cascading schedule, the FKF National Super League match officials are scheduled to commence their own PET training on Thursday, August 24, followed by the FKF Division One match officials on Sunday, August 27, 2023.