The Sunday Mail
IN an era when the referee taking charge of a World Cup final, the biggest game in world football, is made known a day before the game the Zimbabwe Referees Committee are doing business like a circus ensemble.
Last week The Sunday Mail sought to get the names of the match officials who will officiate during this afternoon’s Harare Derby between Dynamos and Caps United.
The exercise proved an impossible task, with the powers that be giving lame excuses as to why such information, of public interest, is not made public.
Warriors legend John Phiri chairs the committee, which also includes retired Fifa panel referees Wilfred Mukuna, Brighton Mudzamiri, Edson Nkau, Sabelo Sibindi and Tendai Bwanya.
With such names – the temptation would have been to say respect but no we will pass – one would expect such a committee to be in sync with developments in the world game.
Referee appointments are made public in most leagues across the world, from the Barclays English Premier League to the rag tag affair that takes place in Botswana.
Not in Zimbabwe.
Bwanya, the ZRC secretary general, said little of substance when quizzed about the matter. While conceding that there is no statute which bars them from releasing the names of match officials to the media, Bwanya claimed “releasing the names is just too difficult.”
“It is difficult for us to release the names because it will pile on the pressure that comes with this type of big match.
“Any other game we can release the names but the Dynamos versus Caps United match is an exception because of the tension that is usually associated with this type of match.
“Remember these referees have to walk in the streets and imagine the supporters walking up to them and speaking of their different opinions before the match.
“Surely such a scenario will add to the pressure the referee will already be under,” said Bwanya.
Now that’s a whole lot of bull from Bwanya and company!
Faced with an organisation that seems to be stuck in football Stone Age,v we sought to get the information through other means.
And we did!
We can exclusively reveal there will be a Ruzive Ruzive connection in this one. The Harare referee, who was once accused of siding with DeMbare, will be the fourth official in a match that will have the Rusape-based Brighton Chimene at the centre and the pair of Bongani Gadzikwa and Edgar Rumeck running the lines.
