adminGrace Chingoma Sports Reporter
Highlanders officials, players and fans were once again left cursing their gods and feeling cheated for the second time in two years after referee Norman Matemera denied them what appeared like a genuine equaliser against their bitter rivals Dynamos yesterday.
Matemera torched a storm again in 2013 when he added at least six minutes optional time when the fourth official had indicated three minutes, which allowed the then DeMbare skipper Partson Jaure to steal an equaliser in the last minute.
In a match where players from both teams particularly Ronald Chitiyo and Knox Mtizwa of Dynamos and Highlanders respectively thought they had done enough to steal the show, it was Matemera’s heed to his assistant referee, Murewa-based Bongani Gadzikwa in ruling out Edmore Muzanenhamo’s equaliser with 10 minutes left that remained on the lips of many supporters as they trickled out of the stadium.
As for Highlanders, they see it as a conspiracy against them by the officials who selected Matemera to officiate this match once again as they had barely forgotten what happened in 2013 as they believe the referee denied them an historic victory over Dynamos, whom they had failed to beat for six years.
In yesterday’s match, with 80 minutes gone, Bosso were on the charge in search of an equaliser when Obadiah Tarumbwa, with back to goal and Augustine Mbara behind him, nodded the ball to Edmore Muzanenhamo who was facing goal and hit a ferocious shot that hit the far post and nestled in.
Muzanenhamo led the celebrations as their supporters in the City End got ecstatic but it was shortlived as Gadzikwa flagged him for offside and Matemera obliged, much to the chagrin of Bosso fans and surprise to some neutrals.
Highlanders vice chairman Mgcini Mpofu, who watched the match in the VVIP tribune, blasted the match officials and claimed that they were robbed.
“On a good day we could have won this match with the right official. Dynamos didn’t deserve to win this match. It is high time the referees up their officiating and this is why you find out that Zimbabwe as a country is not represented at bigger refereeing platforms such as African Cup of Nations.
“How can you get a good goal denied? And the same referee is the one who officiated our match against the same team, which ended in controversy after he awarded 10 minutes added time,” Mpofu said.
Mpofu said apart from the bad decisions, the match was a good game and praised his team for their performance
He said as a club they are pleased with the way coach Bongani Mafu has gone about his job despite the immense pressure on him.
“The coach’s head has never been on the block and people just speculate. The Highlanders job comes with pressure from the fans but as the executive we don’t have any problems with how the coach has performed and his job is safe,” said Mpofu.
Online Reporter