adminSikhumbuzo Moyo
AGEING Triangle United defender Norman Togara has described the refereeing profession as having gone to the dogs in a move likely to invite censure from the football authorities. Togara let his opinion of the referees known on his Facebook account soon after his team lost 0-1 to Highlanders in a drama-filled Castle Lager Premier Soccer League encounter at Barbourfields Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.
“Atrocious refereeing, 16 minutes injury time, three red cards, surely refereeing has gone to the dogs, no wonder why we don’t do well in Continental African League,” wrote the former Dynamos and FC Platinum defender.
Ironically, Togara contributed to the drama at Barbourfields as it was his crunching tackle on Highlanders winger Masimba Mambare that eventually led to the visitors’ goalkeeper Blessing Chipula being red carded by referee Bekezela Makeka for feigning injury as Highlanders were preparing to take a freekick.
In a movie like stunt, Chipula who had earlier on been given a verbal warning by the referee, went down on his own and claimed he had pulled a muscle although in similar comical fashion, his coach Gishon Ntini told other media houses that Chipula had broken his finger.
Togara’s comments are likely to land him in trouble with the Premier Soccer League and even the national football motherbody Zifa under whom the referees’ body falls. Zifa recently issued a stern warning to those who abuse match officials.
In a related development, following a backlash from fans in response to his Facebook post, Togara removed the comments yesterday and later dissociated himself from them.
“That was not me who had posted that, it’s my account though. Phone tomorrow (today) when I have cooled down if you want my opinion on the officiating,” said Togara. In England, Manchester United’s Rio Ferdinand was fined 45 000 British pounds for his Twitter slur that described Chelsea left back Ashley Cole as a Choc Ice, a derogatory term.
During the same year last year, Arsenal player Emmanuel Frimpong was slapped with a 6 000 pounds fine after he insulted a Tottenham Hotspurs fan on Twitter. On both occasions the players were fined even after removing their posts on twitter.
Triangle seemed content with frustrating Highlanders by employing time wasting antics and crude tackles. They exhibited a negative attitude and tactics which came under attack from veteran coach Cosmas Zulu after the duel won by Bosso to leap to the top of the standings.
Online Reporter