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South African match officials handled the Dynamos-FC Platinum semi-final tie at Barbourfields Stadium while Zambian referees were in charge of another semi-final tie between Zimbabwe Saints and Motor Action at Mutare’s Sakubva Stadium.
Dynamos beat FC Platinum 1-0 with The Mighty Bulls winning 2-0 in Mutare.
In a telephone interview from Harare yesterday, the Zifa vice-president Ndumiso Gumede who is also the Zimbabwe Referees Committee acting chairman said foreign referees will again handle Mbada Diamonds Cup finals.
“We are bringing in foreign referees for the Mbada Diamonds Cup final. At the moment I do not have their names but they will be coming from South Africa. We chose South African referees because of easy flights from that country to Harare and vice-versa,” Gumede said.
Repeated efforts to get comment from the South African Football Association (Safa) were fruitless as its chief executive officer Robin Peterson was said to be attending a meeting.
In an earlier interview with the Chronicle Sport, the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League chairman Twine Phiri said the sponsors had stated that they wanted foreign referees to handle the final.
“We had a meeting with the sponsors and it was agreed that for the final we are going have foreign referees again. It must be noted that these referees were only brought in for the cup game and the league matches will be handled by locals,” said Phiri.
There were no complaints on the level of officiating displayed during the Mbada Diamonds Cup semi-finals.
Dynamos and Motor Action have a standing rivalry and the final is likely to be an explosive encounter.
The two teams have a good set of players with the battle likely to be won or lost in the midfield.
DeMbare has the likes of Murape Murape, Washington Arubi, Leo Kurauzvione, Denver Mukamba, Archieford Gutu and Milton Makopa to lead them on Sunday.
The Mighty Bulls on the other hand are likely to bank on giant goalkeeper Marlon Jani, Kuda Musharu, Conrad Whitby, Ocean Mushure, Allan Gahadzikwa, Themba Ndlovu and Tawanda Nyamandwe among others to guide them to their second piece of silverware.
Both clubs will be hoping to become the inaugural winners of the country’s richest soccer tournament and that comes with a ticket to represent Zimbabwe in next year’s Confederations Cup.
The winner will walk away with a cash prize of $75 000, get $25 000 for uniforms and Mbada Diamonds will pay an additional $150 000 to cater for costs associated with participating in the continental competition.
Losing finalists are guaranteed of $50 000.
DeMbare chairman Kenny Mubaiwa said his team was raring to go but felt that local referees should have been afforded an opportunity to handle the final.
“Something is puzzling especially about referees. After the semi-finals, our local referees went on to handle local games well and I feel we should use them to demonstrate we have confidence in them,” said Mubaiwa.
He, however, said he did not want the issue of referees to detract the attention his team as the focus should be on winning the Mbada Diamonds Cup.
Scores of people are expected to throng the giant National Sports Stadium on Sunday.
According to a PSL board member, the sponsors opted for the National Sports Stadium instead of Rufaro as they are expecting a full house.
The Dynamos-FC Platinum semi-final attracted one of the biggest crowds at Barbourfields Stadium which saw 15 219 people paying to watch the match.
Fixtures
Mbada Diamonds Cup final: Sunday Dynamos vs Motor Action (National Sports Stadium).-The Chronicle
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