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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
NATIONAL senior soccer team coach Ian “Dibango” Gorowa yesterday blasted Harare-based referee Thabani Bamala for red carding the duo of Njabulo Ncube and Partson Jaure.
The incident seemed to have stolen the thunder from the epic clash.
Bamala gave Ncube and Jaure a straight red card in the 30th minute after the two players kicked each other. After blowing for a Highlanders foul, the Dynamos defender stepped on the stocky Highlanders forward who then retaliated.
Earlier Bamala had missed an off the ball incident in which the Dynamos defender deliberately stomped on the stocky Bosso forward.
“He just got excited, these are big games and the boys were playing in a true sportsmanship reminiscent of the status of the game but the referee spoilt all the fun. In a derby you don’t want to spoil the game like that, it’s sad really,” said Gorowa who was part of the close to 20 000 fans who thronged Barbourfields Stadium yesterday.
Also present at the venue was the senior Minister without portfolio Simon Khaya Moyo, Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Andrew Langa, Premier Soccer League president Twine Phiri and his chief executive officer Kennedy Ndebele.
Bamala, a Fifa international referee, failed to apply himself for a game of such magnitude. Jaure and Murape charged furiously at him after the red card incident wanting to assault him and it took some of their team mates, the Dynamos bench and police to calm the duo.
Earlier in the week Dynamos had said they did not want Victoria Falls based referee Hardly Ndazi to handle the game claiming he was always against them.
Meanwhile, a sombre atmosphere engulfed Barbourfields Stadium soon after the referee blew his final whistle with a majority Highlanders supporters remaining rooted on the terraces for close to an hour as they came to terms with the stark reality that the championship race could now be all for Dynamos to lose.
Highlanders chairman Peter Dube stood in one place unable to move but just starring at the pitch like many of his disgusted club supporters.
It also dawned on them, painfully though that they would have to wait for another year to beat Dynamos and head coach Kelvin Kaindu has so far joined the likes of Rueben Tsengwa, Madinda Ndlovu, Egyptian national Mohammed Fathi and Mkhuphali Masuku all coaches who have failed to beat the Harare giants, who are now back in the driving seat on the log standings.
Bosso last beat DeMbare when Methembe Ndlovu’s team got the better of their bitter rivals 2-0 at home and 1-0 away.
One could almost hear a needle drop as Bosso supporters were stunned into silence and shook their heads in disbelief. Highlanders legend Douglas Mloyi was almost in tears and could hardly talk.
But outside the pitch police had running battles with fans of both clubs and had to use teargas to disperse the fans.
The fans damaged a number of cars after stoning them.
Once again the hooligan element within both clubs came to the fore with derogatory songs aimed at each other.
Both teams might face the PSL music for missile throwing by their fans.
Bongani Ndlovu