REF MBONGISENI’S 2 GAMES IN 1 DAY

MBABANE – An assistant referee for Mbabane Swallows and Midas City game, then a middleman for Mbabane Highlanders and Malanti Chiefs.

This is the scenario that happened over the weekend in the MTN Premier League games at Somhlolo National Stadium. To be precise, the shocking and embarrassing situation was witnessed by over 2 000 astounded fans last Saturday.
In a case that has never been seen before in the country’s top flight and certainly exposing local football, referee Mbongiseni Fakudze ran his mile when he was assistant referee in the first match of the double-header fixtures.

The norm is that for the next match, Highlanders against Malanti, a whole new set of officials must warm up and take charge of the match. However, Fakudze, who had been running along the touch-line as assistant referee for 90 plus four minutes stoppage time, then took to the whistle in the second match.

He was not done any favours by the crowd as the Highlanders’ grandstand shouted unpalatable words towards him in protest of his decisions, especially on tackles he let go unpunished. The supporters felt he was harsh on their team as according to them, he cautioned their players while not doing same for the opposition that won 2-0 on the day.

As if this was not enough, a match commissioner also had to act as fourth official when he should have been seated and monitoring his four match officials in same games. One Highlanders’ ardent supporter even took to the Royal Box to tell his club’s elders in Moi Moi Masilela and Director Ngomuyayona Gamedze that they should protest about this as it was unheard of but they simply laughed off the incident.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: