While PSL club coaches are celebrating and lauding Safa for suspending “underperforming” match officials in National Soccer League (NSL) matches, Eastern Cape ABC Motsepe League club bosses and coaches are fuming at the decision.
The angry group are accusing Safa of using the Motsepe League as a dumping site for suspect officiating as the suspended bunch remain allowed to officiate in the third tier.
Among the suspended match officials is Lusikisiki-based referee Khulasande Qongqo who, despite his six-week ban, is still eligible for selection to be the man in the middle in provincial league matches.
According to Safa’s Referees’ Review Committee, Qongqo’s ban was a result of “poor officiating” in the Telkom Knockout final between Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs last December.
Peter Sejake‚ Safa head of referees, said: “These sanctions are consistent with our main objective of ensuring that our match officials remain highly competitive and sought after throughout the continent and globally.”
Of great concern to EC club bosses is that the suspended officials are dumped in the Motsepe League during a time where match officials will be under the microscope as competing clubs vie for lucrative top spots to qualify for the national playoffs.
Safa national communications manager Dominic Chimhavi confirmed that Qongqo and company were allowed to preside over Motsepe League matches but defended their decision saying all they wanted was for the banned official to “improve and correct” their officiating skills in matches where there is “no pressure”.
FC Buffalo coach William Mugeyi, whose club is campaigning in the Motsepe League, disagreed, saying a ban should apply at all levels of organised football.
“How are they (match officials) going to feel the pain for their indiscretions if they are still doing their job but at a different level. They should sit at home for the duration of their suspension in order to feel the pain,” said Mugeyi.
“It is not fair on us and does not make sense at all because here we are talking about people who cost clubs because of their decisions yet they are still given duty.”
Mugeyi was backed by his Tornado counterpart Thobela Bikwani, who said: “Suspended officials cannot be allowed to officiate in the ABC Motsepe League which is also under the Safa umbrella.”
Chimhavi was adamant it was unfair to compare Motsepe League matches to those of the NSL (PSL and NFD).
“There are different categories of matches and the pressure is not the same,” said Chimhavi.
“We are not perpetuating under-performance at the expense of the Motsepe League but the issue here is there is little pressure there and that is where they can do corrective measures.”
According to Chimhavi, the suspended officials were not necessarily suspended but were “demoted” as a result of “glaring and unpardonable errors”.
A Motsepe League club boss who asked not to be named is having none of it. “So in essence, Safa is saying these match officials and their poor standards of officiating are suitable only for our league.
“It is unfair on us because in this league, just like in the NSL, the performance of referees is a serious issue and besides no-one knows for sure why the suspended officials committed the offence that led to their suspension.”
Asked what would happen if the very officials continue under-performing in the lower divisions they have been demoted to, Chimhavi said: “Then they will be thrown in the dungeon and flushed out of the system.”
BIG NO TO REJECTS: Motsepe clubs rail against Safa decision on poor refs
The angry group are accusing Safa of using the Motsepe League as a dumping site for suspect officiating as the suspended bunch remain allowed to officiate in the third tier.
Among the suspended match officials is Lusikisiki-based referee Khulasande Qongqo who, despite his six-week ban, is still eligible for selection to be the man in the middle in provincial league matches.
According to Safa’s Referees’ Review Committee, Qongqo’s ban was a result of “poor officiating” in the Telkom Knockout final between Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs last December.
Peter Sejake‚ Safa head of referees, said: “These sanctions are consistent with our main objective of ensuring that our match officials remain highly competitive and sought after throughout the continent and globally.”
Of great concern to EC club bosses is that the suspended officials are dumped in the Motsepe League during a time where match officials will be under the microscope as competing clubs vie for lucrative top spots to qualify for the national playoffs.
Safa national communications manager Dominic Chimhavi confirmed that Qongqo and company were allowed to preside over Motsepe League matches but defended their decision saying all they wanted was for the banned official to “improve and correct” their officiating skills in matches where there is “no pressure”.
FC Buffalo coach William Mugeyi, whose club is campaigning in the Motsepe League, disagreed, saying a ban should apply at all levels of organised football.
“How are they (match officials) going to feel the pain for their indiscretions if they are still doing their job but at a different level. They should sit at home for the duration of their suspension in order to feel the pain,” said Mugeyi.
“It is not fair on us and does not make sense at all because here we are talking about people who cost clubs because of their decisions yet they are still given duty.”
Mugeyi was backed by his Tornado counterpart Thobela Bikwani, who said: “Suspended officials cannot be allowed to officiate in the ABC Motsepe League which is also under the Safa umbrella.”
Chimhavi was adamant it was unfair to compare Motsepe League matches to those of the NSL (PSL and NFD).
“There are different categories of matches and the pressure is not the same,” said Chimhavi.
“We are not perpetuating under-performance at the expense of the Motsepe League but the issue here is there is little pressure there and that is where they can do corrective measures.”
According to Chimhavi, the suspended officials were not necessarily suspended but were “demoted” as a result of “glaring and unpardonable errors”.
A Motsepe League club boss who asked not to be named is having none of it. “So in essence, Safa is saying these match officials and their poor standards of officiating are suitable only for our league.
“It is unfair on us because in this league, just like in the NSL, the performance of referees is a serious issue and besides no-one knows for sure why the suspended officials committed the offence that led to their suspension.”
Asked what would happen if the very officials continue under-performing in the lower divisions they have been demoted to, Chimhavi said: “Then they will be thrown in the dungeon and flushed out of the system.”
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