LAGOS, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Two Nigerians have been appointed to officiate the African Olympic hockey qualifier taking place in Nairobi, Kenya from July 14 to 22.

They are Ahmed Mabudi Bashar, 38, the first Nigerian to be appointed as an umpire during an Olympic qualifier, and Walter Imoedemhe, who is to serve as a Judge at the Tournament.

An ex-hockey international, Mabudi attended International Hockey Federation (FIH) umpires coaching course in Johannesburg, South Africa and was appointed an African Grade I hockey umpire inMay, 2003. He was promoted the first Nigerian international umpire a month later.

Mabudi represented Africa as umpire in the first Afro-Asia Games in Hyderabad, India in 2003, serving also as technical official in the Junior World Cup Qualifier in Egypt, 2004 and in Africa Nations Cup in Pretoria in 2005.

Mabudi, a Bauchi State indigene, is a civil servant and married with children.

Imoedemhe, a lawyer who hails from Delta State, is a member of Nigeria Hockey Board and is chairman of hockey development of the Nigerian Hockey Federation.

An ex-international, Imoedemhe, who is a staff of the University of Benin, is also the chairman of Edo State Hockey Association.