dyton mupawaenda
Don Makanyanga-Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE Northern Region Soccer League have welcomed the decision by the local football mother body to appoint renowned former referee Wilfred Mukuna to oversee the appointment of match officials in Division One.
The second-tier league had a 2024 season that was blighted by numerous reports of controversial officiating.
Yet the league was as highly entertaining as it was competitive.
With the 2025 term getting off to a lively start yesterday when Nesbert “Yabo’’ Saruchera’s newboys N’ombeyaora thrashing PAM 4-0 at The Heart stadium and Harare City holding Shamva Mine 1-1 in the mining town, it is pointing to another exciting season in the NRSL.
But is the move by ZIFA to appoint regional referee managers which has been welcomed by the NRSL chiefs and won the plaudits of vice-chairman Sweeney Mushonga.
“I would also want to give a pat on the back on the match officials, that over the years have been doing very well, save for last year where I think there were two major instances which were flagged as the performances of the referees was shrouded in some kind of controversy.
“But we cannot then label the whole season to have gone bad because of two cases,” said Mushonga.
He welcomed the appointment of former referees Mukuna and Chenjerai Chihumbiri as critical in helping with the standards of officiating in the NRSL.
“We are happy to say that with the coming in place of the new ZIFA Executive Committee led by Magwizi, there have been changes within the referees’ committee and we are glad to say that for the Northern Region, there have also been changes in the appointing authorities for match officials.
“We were informed by a circular from ZIFA, which noted that Mr Mukuna and Mr Chihumbiri were renowned referees during their time and will now be responsible for our referees’ appointments.
“These are people with unquestionable backgrounds and reputation in football, they are not tainted.
“We believe that they also want to maintain their integrity and names, so we expect that the appointments will be done appropriately and the right person will be appointed for the right matches,” sai Mushonga.
The NRSL vice chairman also saluted the region’s disciplinary committee for the diligent manner they executed their duties without fear or favour which helped the league “create a fair playing ground for all the 18 teams’’.
“As a region we believe in fair play.
“We also believe that we have applied our rules and regulations consistently without fear or favour. We believe that our judicial system has been operational and that they have conducted themselves very well,” said Mushonga.
Online Reporter