Zim referees course concludes

THE Fifa Member Association Referees Course successfully concluded late last week in Harare.

The course’s instructors were esteemed former Fifa panel Zimbabwe referee Felix Tangawarima and Fifa physichal instructor Bento Navaseez of Mozambique.

The chairman of the Zifa Normalisation Committee (NC) , Lincoln Mutasa, applauded referees for successfully completing the course and encouraged them to strive for a place on the Fifa panel of referees.

The course started last week Tuesday with 10 female and 25 male referees from across Zimbabwe taking part, including 14 who are on the Fifa international panel.

“This course was meant to be a game-changer. The match officials did both theory and practicals, ensuring they are primed for the fast-changing world of football.

The course came at a time some referees decisions have been heavily questioned so early into the 2024 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season.

After Week Five local elite football fixtures, Bikita Minerals head coach Saul Chaminuka had no kind words for match officials who handled their match against Arenel Movers at Luveve Stadium.

Chaminuka felt they were robbed of a genuine goal.

“I think players should be let to play the games and decisions made on the field of play. We score a very good goal but I don’t know why someone decides against it. It is such decisions that end up deciding games and I’m not happy, I don’t want to lie.

“Sanction or not, I don’t care, we can’t have this kind of football. That goal, was the turning point of this game. It’s difficult to talk about team performance because, like I said, decisions, they decided. We had our mistakes, and we also had the game on our side and that’s football but I think games must be decided on the pitch by players, not otherwise.

“We must compete, we are into this to compete. We spend a lot of time working on these guys and when they do right, they are supposed to be credited for doing right,” said Chaminuka.

The goal that Chaminuka referred to came soon after the start of the second half in the 48th minute when Chris Makambira headed home from close range but was adjudged to have committed a foul on an Arenel player.

At that time, the game was tied at one all before Arenel Movers went on to reclaim their lead minutes later.

CAPS United coach Lloyd Chitembwe was also left fuming when their striker Ralph Kawondera found the back of the nets with a spectacular curling effort in the 86th minute but the Green Machine’s celebrations were cut short after assistant referee Mncedisi Maphosa raised his flag to signal offside.

However, the Zimbabwe referees boss Norman Matemera backed Maphosa for a good call.

It was a difficult call to make and as centre referee, Gweru-based Lloyd Mapanje, went over to the assistant to consult, it was at this stage that CAPS United fans invaded the pitch resulting in a 20-minute stoppage.

Makepekepe were trailing FC Platinum 0-1 at the time the match was called off after Juan Mutudza had struck for the hosts in the first half.

Dynamos gaffer Genesis Mangombe and Chicken Inn mentor Joey Antipas also openly registered their displeasure on how referees handled their Week Five games against Bulawayo Chiefs and Manica Diamonds respectively.

Kaindu also joined the bandwagon soon after their match against Ngezi Platinum Stars.

A week earlier Hwange had their goalkeeper pushed to the ground before a corner kick was taken at Simba Bhora and from the resultant incident, the home team scored leaving Hwange players to protest.

.-@FungaiMuderere