CHINHOYI – IT is tough for players to develop when abuse from referees is allowed and
hounds players out of the game.
Chinhoyi Stars Football Club chairperson, Adam Makwanya, made the observation after
their match against Herentals U-20 ended 2-nil in favour of the visiting school boys.
Makwanya fingered match officials after an apparent handball in the box 10 minutes into
the first half was not called.
He also said they could have been awarded a penalty when their attacking mid-fielder,
Brandon Chidzomba, was hacked down in the box, but both the centre referee, Brain
Gowa, and second assistant referee, Lazarus Zindove, ignored the violations.
Makwanya accepted one of the two goals as being fair, while he dismissed the other
one as clearly having been offside.
“The less experienced referees seem to be after bribes than improving the game to a
higher level. No wonder why the pool of Zimbabwean referees drifting upwards to the
top level is that much smaller,” observed Makwanya.
He said his team’s defensive mid-fielder, Pascal Mudimu, was shown a yellow card for
unnecessary reason as a way of frustrating the player.
Herental U-20 scored their first goal in the 43rd minute through Prince Mahembe. The
second goal, which caused a scuffle was from Harley Matarutse.
The disallowed goal, which was scored by Matarutse and the resultant commotion,
came after Chinhoyi Stars’ supporters wanted to attack the first assistant referee
identified as Cheka. The commotion forced the match to stop for all most ten minutes.
Chinhoyi Stars team Manager, Never Maruta, was shown a red card after shouting
harsh words at Cheka.
Cheka walked out of the field and did not want to proceed with the match.
Visitors hit the net for the third time but the goal was rejected by the referee showing a
sign of a hand ball which occurred before the player hit it into the net.
Herental U-20 coach, Celestino Benza, said the match was fair and he did not see any
bias by the match officials.