By Sab Osuji

Chairman of Kwara State Football Association, Alhaji Idris Abdullahi Musa 'Thuraya' says the state FA which he superintends maintains the highest level of professional standards as stipulated by FIFA and Confederation of African Football, CAF.

Thuraya spoke on the sidelines of Sunday's Nigeria Professional Football League clash between Kwara United and Abia Warriors during which the 'Pitch and Perimeter' areas of the stadium were effectively and professionally  managed.

The FA boss insisted that in ensuring the success of the game, the FA placed high premium on the enforcement of FIFA and CAF League Management Protocol.

Thuraya heaped plaudits on the sporting media for helping to sensitize football fans in the state, noting that his several hours of watching clips of European league games paid off as seen in the effective management and control of the match on Sunday.

"I want every one to know that there is a standard, be it for CAF or FIFA", Thuraya said gleefully.

"If we all are used to watching European leagues, you will see that people only focus on just watching the football. 

"But you see  we at the FA, custodians of the football convention, we should be able to see how we can play our part. For me, when I watch those foreign games, I don't focus on just football, I watch other things that make the league match successful.

"I watch the perimeter management by the match officials and FA. It is an offense for any one to cross the perimeter if he is not accredited for access to such area. In those leagues, encroachments are seriously frowned at. 

"What I did was that I ensured that whoever entered from gate 1, 50 or 100 goes out through that same gate. The only people allowed anywhere near the pitch are officials, players, medics, that is all," the FA boss explained.

Kwara United returned to playing home in Ilorin after a year self exile on account of pitch refurbishment which saw to an intensive grass planting and manicuring of the pitch into a lush green field fit for purposeful football.

Prior to the fixture, there were palpable fears that fans encroachment onto the pitch might ruin the game.

But the season's opening fixture recorded a huge  success in the area of pitch and parameter management following  strict protocol put in place by the state FA.

"We had series of meetings with security officials. We also had to sensitize people, letting them know the rules that obtained.

"I must also thank the media in this regard because they helped sensitize the fans that it is wrong to be on the pitch, before, during and after the match", Thuraya concluded.