adminBoth leagues feed into the Zifa Central Region Division One soccer league.
Matabeleland South is home to six Central Soccer League clubs which are log leaders Tripple B, FC Strikers, Town United, Vumbachikwe, Jessie Mine and Blanket Mine.
Ncube said that they have resolved to have some Division Two Soccer League matches played in the morning to allow referees to officiate in the afternoon’s Division One League games.
“As things stand we are in a dilemma because of a lack of referees. From our counting we have less than 15 referees servicing Matabeleland South Province.
“We are now having some of the Division Two games being played in the morning and at times we use two officials per match so that the league programme is not disturbed.
“However, as much as we are playing our games, we are afraid that the standard of our soccer will be greatly compromised and that is why we have asked Zifa to organise referees’ courses to alleviate the burden,” said Ncube.
The problem has been a blessing in disguise for match officials as they were now getting allowances for as much as four games per weekend.
However, the referee’s problem is not only affecting Matabeleland South but most provinces according to the Zifa chief executive officer Jonathan Mashingaidze.
Mashingaidze said the shortage of match officials was worrying them.
“This referees issue worries us a lot. What we have realised is that this is a perennial problem especially in provinces outside the big cities or towns.
“As it is we are in the process of facilitating referees courses in Matabeleland South and other affected areas so that we train as many referees as possible.
“If we have younger referees coming up we are going to attach them at lower divisions so that they gain experience.
“We know that there are some referees who want the situation to continue as it is so that they carry on getting up to six matches per weekend and fatten their purses,” Mashingaidze said.
With most leagues almost approaching the second round of the season, focus will turn to relegation and promotion. This period will require fit and attentive referees.
Last season the Zifa Central Region Division One soccer league’s championship race was thrown into turmoil after allegations of match-fixing rocked that league.
Referees from Bulawayo had to be asked to travel to officiate in some of the matches.
Gweru club Hardbody had one of their directors Takesure Sibanda charged for match-fixing and fined $1 000.
Up to today the Centralgate scandal is yet to be finalised.
Samukeliso Silengane of the Zimbabwe Referees’ Committee, the Zifa Southern Region chairman Gift Banda and his Central Region counterpart Patrick Hokonya were suspended after being fingered in the Centralgate scandal.
Findings by the committee set up by Zifa to investigate the shenanigans in the Central Region are yet to be made public.
The Zifa head of secretariat was quick to warn match officials that they were monitoring matches in lower leagues and they would not hesitate to ban those found on the wrong side of the law.
“We are approaching a delicate period which is the promotion and relegation. We will keep an eye on all our leagues because we do not want any disruptions in our football,” Mashingaidze said.
Meanwhile, a storm is brewing in the Zifa Southern Region Division One soccer league where a certain referee (name withheld) is said to have been officiating all How Mine matches in Bulawayo and at their home since the beginning of the season.
Online Reporter