adminSikhumbuzo Moyo and Jillian Shava Sports Reporter
THERE was a sad conclusion to the Naph national ball games in Bulawayo yesterday after the association’s head in charge of rugby in Mashonaland East province Thomas Tarwireyi threatened a Chronicle sports reporter, while the boys’ volleyball final ended on a violent note. An angry Tarwireyi and five other unidentified Naph officials charged at and shoved reporter Jillian Shava at White City Stadium demanding to know why The Chronicle carried the story “Coaches lament use of incompetent referees in rugby” in yesterday’s edition.
In the article, Tarwireyi is quoted admitting that the officiating was not up to scratch in Naph’s inaugural rugby competition.
Shava retreated and went to interview Naph president Cynthia Khumalo, but Tarwireyi ignored the Naph boss and caused a scene, shouting at the top of his voice threatening to sue this publication.
A visibly shocked Khumalo said: “This is really sad and unfortunate.”
In the volleyball final pitting Harare and Mashonaland West provinces, an official from Harare, Remember Karanda, threw a tantrum, directing unprintable words at the umpire, whom he accused of being biased against his province.
Karanda violently tried to pull down the nets and menacingly charged towards the umpire before he was restrained.
It later emerged that Karanda had nothing to do with volleyball, but was a basketball coach.
Khumalo said the incident had not been “brought to our attention, but I promise you, we’ll investigate it as a matter of urgency”.
Meanwhile, Manicaland hauled the most medals to end the Naph ball games with four gold medals in the boys’ tennis, girls’ volleyball, netball and boys’ soccer. They also scooped three silver medals in the boys’ basketball, rugby and girls’ tennis.
The host province Bulawayo only managed one gold medal in the girls’ basketball and three silver medals in the boys’ tennis, girls’ soccer and netball.
In the girls’ soccer final, Bulawayo lost 3-4 on penalties to Harare after a penalty shootout as the match had ended 0-0 in normal time.
The boys’ final between Manicaland and Mashonaland West was an exciting encounter and also had to be decided by spot kicks after a 1-1 stalemate.
Manicaland went on to win 4-2 on penalties.
Gold Silver Bronze
Harare 4 1 0
Mashonaland West 0 1 4
Mashonaland East 0 1 2
Mashonaland Central 1 0 0
Midlands 0 0 2
Masvingo 0 1 2
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