Any athlete's path to greatness is a journey walked through endurance, patience, hard work, commitment and the general passion one has for the discipline of their choice.

And the same applies to being a successful official of a given sports discipline as it calls for commitment and a willingness to learn.

Jabeth Elly Ojilong carries a exciting story, as the fastest young football official growing to fame by passion and desire for the whistle.

At 17-years, Ojilong is already rocking the Uganda football refereeing circles, as he pursues his childhood dream.

He was at the centre of the just concluded USSSA Elite Games football boys final between archrivals Jinja Progressive Academy (JIPRA) and Jinja College at Kakindu Stadium, Jinja, a final he handled with all the perfection it needed.

A S.4 vacist from Ngora High School, Ojilong’s swift growth into a promising centre referee started when he was a young football player who always opted to officiate between the teams playing in his village in Kadok, Ngora district.

He could later be selected among the officials to handle the first edition of the Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Associations (USSSA) organised and FUFA monitored U16 boys football championship in Lira in 2019.

From here, his passion grew bigger until he enrolled for a grade III referees course held in Karaki, instructed by Denis Bate in 2021, which he passed with flying colours after coming among the top five of the 30 successful trainees from the 65 that had attended. It was his springboard.

“I used to officiate friendly games at home and this was before I did this FUFA course in the 2021 lockdown at Karaki. I attended as the youngest of all but managed to come out among the best five,” Ojilong says.

Ojilong who is currently the youngest FUFA male referee, has already officiated at both national and regional junior tournaments as a centre referee such as the FUFA Odilo, USSSA Elite games, USSSA Teso Zone Secondary School Games, 2023 CECAFA U15 Championship in Dar-es-Salaam and the December 2023 CAF schools CECAFA U15 in Nairobi won by Kawempe and Kitende.

Starting with this season’s second round of the top flight, he has been named on the officiating officials list after having performed well in the past assignments in the Uganda Premier League, FUFA Big League, FUFA Juniors League, FUFA Women's Elite League and the Uganda Cup.

“I am looking for support to enroll in further refereeing courses because I want to realise my dream of attaining a FIFA badge so that I can officiate at a much higher level of football such as AFCON, WAFCON and even the World Cup,” he said.

Inspired by FUFA referee Max Odong, Ojilong says he looks up to Mike Dean and international English referees.

Born on 02/12/2007 to Samuel Ojilong (primary teacher) and Calorine Amoding (secretary) of Kadok village in Ngora district, Ojilong hailed his parents for their continued support and encouragement through his academic and sports work.