Sports / Soccer
Foreigners to handle Mbada Cup matches
04 Nov 2011 at 04:38hrs | Views
THE blockbuster Mbada Diamonds Cup semi-final between Dynamos and FC Platinum at Barbourfields on Sunday is set to be handled by referees from South Africa as Zifa battles to contain the protests that have been triggered by allegations of biased match officiating in the domestic Premiership.
Another set of South African match officials is also likely to handle the other semi-final between Motor Action and Zimbabwe Saints at Sakubva on Sunday.
It's also certain that foreign referees, likely to come from Zambia, will handle the explosive Castle Lager Premiership decider between FC Platinum and Dynamos at Mandava in Week 29 of the league programme.
There has been a tsunami of protests, in recent weeks, centred on the way referees have seemingly been giving a helping hand to FC Platinum, who lead the race for the Premiership title by three points with three matches still to play.
Yesterday the Zifa board met in Harare and revealed that they were making moves to rope in foreign referees to handle the remaining highly explosive matches in the Premiership.
Zifa have already installed their vice-president Ndumiso Gumede to take over as the leader of the referees' committee to try and restore order after allegations surfaced of questionable conduct in the body, especially in relation to the appointment of referees.
Gumede took over from Samukeliso Silangani who was the acting boss.
Zifa president Cuthbert Dube yesterday said his board was worried about the negative reports concerning match officials and said such accusations tarnished the image of the game as well as turning away sponsors.
The majority of the Zifa board members met in the capital were a resolution was passed to bring in foreign referees with South African match officials set to handle the Mbada Diamonds Cup semi-finals this weekend.
PSL chairman Twine Phiri emerged out of the Zifa board meeting to confirm that the foreign referees were likely to handle the Mbada Diamonds Cup semi-finals.
Zifa president Dube was the architect of the script to bring in foreign match officials amid growing reports of biased officiating in the last few games of the Premiership.
Another set of South African match officials is also likely to handle the other semi-final between Motor Action and Zimbabwe Saints at Sakubva on Sunday.
It's also certain that foreign referees, likely to come from Zambia, will handle the explosive Castle Lager Premiership decider between FC Platinum and Dynamos at Mandava in Week 29 of the league programme.
There has been a tsunami of protests, in recent weeks, centred on the way referees have seemingly been giving a helping hand to FC Platinum, who lead the race for the Premiership title by three points with three matches still to play.
Yesterday the Zifa board met in Harare and revealed that they were making moves to rope in foreign referees to handle the remaining highly explosive matches in the Premiership.
Gumede took over from Samukeliso Silangani who was the acting boss.
Zifa president Cuthbert Dube yesterday said his board was worried about the negative reports concerning match officials and said such accusations tarnished the image of the game as well as turning away sponsors.
The majority of the Zifa board members met in the capital were a resolution was passed to bring in foreign referees with South African match officials set to handle the Mbada Diamonds Cup semi-finals this weekend.
PSL chairman Twine Phiri emerged out of the Zifa board meeting to confirm that the foreign referees were likely to handle the Mbada Diamonds Cup semi-finals.
Zifa president Dube was the architect of the script to bring in foreign match officials amid growing reports of biased officiating in the last few games of the Premiership.
Source - TH
