Sheefeni Nikodemus
30 March 2011
THE Southern Stream First Division is earning a reputation as the stomping ground of match officials.
Following three earlier incidences of physical and verbal abuse hurled at the man in the middle, another similar episode unfolded in the match between Young Beauties and Fedics United on Saturday.
According to NPL League Administrator Merin Geiriseb the disruption caused the match to be called off. Geiriseb said “a drunk” Collin Gusha, who is registered as a player with Young Beauties but has not featured this season, “behaved in a disorderly manner by swearing at the referee invading the pitch” during the first half of the match.
At halftime, Gusha then allegedly attacked referee Willem Kumukuyu, who decided to call off the game. Fedics were leading 3-1 at that stage.
“He was insulting and fighting with the referee during halftime,” said Geiriseb.
Geiriseb said Gusha would be hauled before the league’s disciplinary committee “just like those offenders before him”.
The referee assault cases of Hotspurs boss Theofelus ‘Sticks’ Tjikuere, Winter Roses player Manfred Tjiuoro and Friends goalkeeper Joshlin Buys were heard on Saturday and the verdict is expected to be made public within the next two days.
ROUND ONE
AT the halfway stage of the league, Hotspurs currently lead the 12-team division on 25 points with second-placed Tura Magic on 24 in hot pursuit. Monitronic College and Spoilers on 22 points each are third and fourth respectively, with fifth-placed Desert Rollers on 21 points still in with a chance of winning promotion to the Premier League.
Winter Roses occupy bottom spot, having lost all eleven of their first round matches. Fedics United are four points ahead in eleventh with Friends on 10 points and Young Beauties on 11 a further two positions up, rounding-off the bottom four.
SSFD Results
Saturday, March 26
Desert Rollers 2-0 Hotspurs
Friends 1-3 Monitronic
Spoilers 1-0 Swakopmund
Unam 0-1 Tura Magic
Sunday, March 27
Winter Roses 1-1 Hotspurs
AllAfrica – All the Time
Continue reading here:
Namibia: More Referee Assaults in SSFD