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Sports Reporter
THE Castle Lager Premier Soccer League yesterday said it will only accredit referees that are on the panel meant to officiate in the topflight.This comes after the Zimbabwe Soccer Referees’ Association had threatened to withdraw its members after facing challenges in entering Luveve and Barbourfields stadia for last weekend’s matches.
Zifa vice-president Omega Sibanda who is in charge of the referees’ body and his deputy Bryton Malandule said they had no problems complying with the changes but expressed disgust on the treatment they got from the league officials at the weekend.
Malandule alleges that PSL chief executive officer Kennedy Ndebele verbally attacked him.
“The major concern as referees is the decision by the PSL to deny match officials access to the stadia because the cards that they are using are said to have been replaced. I can tell you that no referee has the new PSL accreditation because we are not aware of the developments.
“We have to be given time to submit our names and photographs through the Zifa referees desk for accreditation. Some referees are Fifa-accredited and it boggles the mind when that card is overlooked. We are not saying the PSL accreditation is bad, it is alright for administrative purposes but as service providers of the game they must allow us to use our cards until they accredit us.
“As we were being denied access with other referees, I called my chairman (Sibanda) who said I should speak to the match commissioner of the day and alert him. I was told to get in but I couldn’t leave out referees that were outside.
“Someone then called Ndebele and he said we will not enter the stadium if we did not have PSL cards. During the process of negotiating for me and the referees, he insulted me and used abusive language. He said ulizanka which to me is loosely translated to ‘a fool’. Up to today he is yet to come and apologise,” said Malandule.
Ndebele said he responded to Malandule the way he did because he did not know his portfolio in the referees committee and had threatened to withdraw match officials for a game that was to be screened live on SuperSport.
“I told him (Malandule) that what he was saying was rubbish and that he and his friends are not allowed by Fifa to call off a match.
Actually I am not aware who he is within the referees because we haven’t received any form of communication from the Zifa CEO who I enjoy cordial relations with contrary to what some are thinking. I only know him (Malandule) as a board member in the Zifa Southern Region.
“As it is I have written to the Zifa CEO seeking clarification on who to register. The simple thing that everyone, including referees must understand is that only match officials and commissioners that are on the PSL panel will be accredited. Those that are not there will have to pay. Accreditation is only done at the PSL office and one has to send a picture and fill in their form,” said Ndebele.
Sibanda said they supported the noble cause to stop leakages at stadia for the benefit of the clubs but demanded communication from the PSL.
He said he was humiliated as he tried to get into the stadia at the weekend.
“It’s not proper for whoever was responsible at the gates at Luveve Stadium and Barbourfields to surprise people, including myself and deny them access to the facility because they have set new rules without letting us know. I was shut out at Luveve Stadium with the PSL CEO (Kenney Ndebele) watching and didn’t even assist, which is not right. All we have to do is leave personalities outside the stadium because we are there to serve people and football. If ever there are changes, as referees we are going to comply but there must be communication.
“We are not denying that it is wiser for clubs to get as much as they can from gate takings and avoid leakages, but we must not be caught by surprise. My observation those scaffolds at Barbourfields were dangerous and so were those police dogs. I was even humiliated and ridiculed in front of everyone outside there as I stood for 30 minutes by a PSL official called Rodwell (Thabe who is the PSL marketing manager).
“The issue of plugging loopholes at gates is noble but I feel it was poorly done. PSL knows the procedure to follow and they must write to Zifa and ask who the national association wants to accredit. My vice-chairman at the referees committee Malandule was shouted at by the PSL CEO and that is not how things must be in football because it is a unifying sport. There is a system and protocol to follow. People in public offices must have manners. People bent on disrupting reconciliation and progress will find the train going fast,” Sibanda said.
Online Reporter