Poor match officiating rocks D1

Senior Sports Reporter
POOR match officiating continues to be part of the country’s four Division One Leagues with Eastern Region Division One title aspirants Dongo Sawmills being the latest to play the victim card. Former Highlanders and Buffaloes bulky yet skilful striker Eddie Dube, who now assists Shadreck Mugurasave on the Dongo Sawmills bench, bitterly complained about the raw deal his team was getting, week-in week-out from match officials in their league match encounters.

“It appears there is a deliberate agenda to stop us from winning league matches. Our opponents are being awarded dubious penalties and most of the decisions by referees are meant to frustrate our players.

“For example, we actually had a penalty created from nothing at Mwenezana only for the referee to rescind his decision after protests from our camp. The same referee, who was bent on seeing us drop points, went to award another dubious penalty in the dying stages of the match in order for the home team to secure an equaliser. Indeed, they did.

“We were on the receiving end recently in Marondera away to Eastern Stars. An early dubious penalty helped unsettle our boys and give the Marondera side an edge over us. At the end of the day, this situation frustrates not only the players and the coaches but also the sponsors. The game is in dire need of sponsors but how can we attract sponsorship if matches are decided by referees?” fumed Dube.

In recent years, it has almost become a norm that league matches in Division One, especially those involving title-chasing clubs, are marred by biased officiating.

Numerous complaints of biased officiating have been made verbally and formally but not any convincing deterrent action seems to have been taken by the responsible authorities. Zifa Eastern Region chairman Piraishe Mabhena concurred that biased match officiating has been a major challenge in his region albeit a riveting contestation for the title.

He acknowledged that his secretariat has since received three written complaints of biased officiating.
The former Hippo Valley chairman also confirmed that numerous verbal complaints have also come to their attention with Gutu being the major villain.

“We have an intriguing contest for the league title and one wishes the best team were allowed to win. The issue of biased officiating is a serious matter that we even discussed at our recent board meeting.

“All along things were okay, but it all suddenly changed after the referees’ committee made some changes within their structures and systems of administration.

“Yes, we have received three formal complaints involving home teams — Gutu, Chivhu Stars and Mutare City Rovers. We have also had numerous verbal complaints that have also come to our attention with Gutu being the major villain.

“We acknowledge that we really need to do something about it and, in fact, we are engaging the relevant authorities in refereeing so that we let the best team of the day win,” he said.

Meanwhile, the exciting Eastern Region Division One enters its 15th week this weekend with Mutare City Rovers’ assuming top spot on the table.

Gusha Bhora, as City Rovers are affectionately known in Mutare, were in fourth position prior to last weekend’s round of league matches, but a slender 1-0 victory over Gutu coupled with setbacks on the part of the then top three saw them shoot to the summit of the table.

In a statement, elated Mutare City Rovers spokesperson Clayton Masekesa said they owe their team’s fine run to a collective effort from the executive, the technical team, the players and the supporters.

“Naturally as a team we are happy to be at the top of the log considering the fact that the race to promotion into the premier league is tight. We are happy by the way the team is playing and the good results that are coming our way.

“This is a collective effort from all of us as executive, the technical team, the players and the supporters.
“This is a job well done. We hope that we will maintain the momentum that will see us get promoted at the end of the season.

“As we have said before, this is a community team and our doors are still open to those who want to come and join us in this football project.
“As a team we are inviting all the people in and outside Mutare to come and support us and be together in realising this dream of promotion.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who is behind us and we greatly appreciate their support which is of great value inasfar as our endeavours of getting promoted are concerned,” he said.