adminNgqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
THE Bulawayo Amateur Football Association League (Bafa) has raised concern over poor refereeing standards and urged the Zimbabwe Referees Committee to take concrete steps to remedy the problem.
Bafa chairman, Chris Mtungwazi said the referees’ body should improve the training of match officials as their work had a huge bearing on the development of the game.
He said this concern has been raised at all levels of the game resulting in the demotions of 18 Premier Soccer League referees.
Speaking during the association’s annual general meeting, Mtungwazi also urged clubs to maintain discipline on and off the pitch.
“I can never over emphasise the need for discipline both on and off the pitch. As leaders of teams we expect you to be the enforcer of discipline within your teams. We expect you to be familiar with our rules and regulation and to be guided accordingly,” he said. Mtungwazi revealed they have renewed their sponsorship partnership with Edgars Group who will continue to provide medals and individual prizes for championship winners.
He said they will continue seeking financial rewards for those who emerge victorious in the league marathon.
Mtungwazi revealed a news tournament is on the cards after successful negotiations with Early Ashes Hardware, who will fund the tourney christened Champions of Champions Trophy.
The cup will involve two teams, winners of the Edgars Bafa League and the team that lifts the Townshend and Butcher Trophy who at the moment are Safeguard and Golden Hotspurs respectively.
Mtungwazi expressed concern over failure by some teams to pay their affiliation fees in full, adding this has negatively affected the running of the league.
He urged teams to come up with payment plans if they are unable to pay the whole amount at one go.
Affiliation is set at $150 per team plus player registration at $1 per footballer.
derick.khumalo