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* Kafatiya was not supposed to
officiate the match—Chabwera
and Frazer Nazombe
In a theatrical twist of events Illovo has asked Fam to nullify their abandoned Super League game against Total Big Bullets played at Chichiri Stadium on Saturday on the basis that it was officiated by retired Fifa referee Charles Kafatiya.
At the time of the abandonment the Bullets were leading 1-0 through midfielder Robert 'Baggio' Ng'ambi's 17th minute perfect finish from a fumbled ball after Ganizani 'Njoka' Malunga had connected a low cross from Fisher Kondowe.
Illovo's general secretary James Chabwera said in a telephone interview from Nchalo yesterday afternoon that he has already communicated verbally with the association about the move saying as a retired referee Kafatiya was not supposed to handle the game.
“I am in the process of drafting a letter to Fam. A retired ref is not supposed to officiate a game unless if there are special arrangements with Fam.
“And in this case there were no special arrangements, Kafatiya officiated the game because the initial referee who was supposed to handle the game excused himself and therefore the Southern Region Referees Committee should have allocated somebody else and not a retired ref,” argued Chabwera.
Fam treasurer Hubert Mfune who is also head of the Super League Desk agreed with Chabwera in a separate interview that the game will be rendered null and void if it is established that Fam was not aware of the arrangement.
“We will definitely nullify the game if it is indeed established that Kafatiya officiated the match without a special arrangement with Fam because it is against the rules but I will have to check with the general secretary of Fam,” said Mfune.
Kafatiya, who hanged up his whistle last year, stood in for Fred Khoropa because the latter would report for the match late due to pressure of work.
Khoropa confirmed in an interview later that he was supposed to officiate the game but he phoned the ref's committee to say he would show up a bit late.
However, Bullets vice general secretary Ophman Kondowe said his club is not ready to suffer the consequences of other people's mistakes.
“Why did Illovo accept to play in the first place when they knew that Kafatiya is a retired referee...they should not take this as a scapegoat to have the game replayed.
“We spend a lot of money in preparing for these games and we cannot accept to replay because that has nothing to do with us, if the ref's committee assigned Kafatiya, that was their business. As far as we are concerned we have won the match because Illovo refused to continue with play,” said Kondowe who doubles as team manager.
The game was abandoned in the 41st minute when Kafatiya ordered the Bullets to retake a saved penalty after assistant referee Mike Makoko had raised his flag indicating that Napolo had left his line.
The Bullets were awarded the penalty when Malunga was brought down by Napolo in a desperate move to stop him from scoring.
Illovo players protested vehemently and threatened to walk out of the pitch but Kafatiya stood his ground and after five minutes and persuasion from their officials the sugarmen agreed to resume the game.
'Njoka' himself was chosen to take the spot kick. He took a few steps backwards amidst loud whistling from Bullets fans, went forward and executed the penalty which Napolo saved.
Players on the pitch fought for the rebound but assistant ref Makoko raised his flag indicating that Napolo had left his line and Kafatiya ordered that the penalty should be retaken.
It was the last straw that broke the camel's back. Illovo refused to continue with play until Kafatiya had no option but end the game prematurely.
Asked why the match had to finish so abruptly, Kafatiya said: “According to Fifa rules a referee is not supposed to comment to the press in a situation lie this.”
Angry fans rushed to the area around the dressing rooms accusing Illovo of wasting their money for a game they never enjoyed and started pelting stones which broke the windscreen and a side window of the Bullets' bus.
A police armoured vehicle rushed to the scene and security men dispersed the crowd by firing some teargas.
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