The Sunday Mail
Mehluli Sibanda in Bulawayo
Chicken Inn........................... (1) 1
Dongo Sawmill................... (0) 0
(Match abandoned after 60 minutes)
CHICKEN INN goalkeeper’s coach Julias “Siza” Ndlovu was accused of assaulting Dongo Sawmill medic Urayai Chiparange as this Castle Lager Premier Soccer League contest was abandoned at Luveve yesterday.
Referee Philani Ncube had no choice but to call off the match after a lengthy stoppage.
Dongo Sawmill insisted they did not feel safe since the incident happened in front of the police who failed to arrest Ndlovu.
On his part, Ncube sent off Ndlovu from the Chicken Inn technical area.
The Chicken Inn technical team member was later arrested and taken to Luveve Police Station where , according to Chicken Inn chairman Lifa Ncube, he was released without charge as there was no complainant.
“Julias Ndlovu is at home now, he was released without being charged by the police, they said they will proceed by way of summons if there is a need to,’’ said the Chicken Inn chairman last night.
Match commissioner Michael Phiri explained that the referee could not afford the visitors to decide if they wanted to continue playing.
Dongo at one point indicated that they would continue with the match if police officers guarded their technical area.
However, when that demand was met the visitors made a U-turn.
It all started when Chiparange was passing in front of the Gamecocks technical zone after treating an injured player.
He fell to the ground like a tonne of bricks and the fourth official Bwanali Bonamali alerted the referee.
Dananai Chinowawa, the Dongo Sawmill assistant coach, accused Ndlovu of punching Chiparange.
“He (Ndlovu) is a coach, he is supposed to lead by example. He hit him with a fist and police failed to arrest him. Security was not proper, we were not comfortable at all, our players had lost their composure,’’ said Chinowawa.
PSL chief executive Kennedy Ndebele last night said he could not comment until he gets the match report.
Away from the controversy, Dongo Sawmill had for most of the parts of the match succeeded in frustrating Chicken Inn with a stubborn defence marshalled by former Gamecocks striker Evans Chikwaikwai.
Midfielder Tafadzwa Kutinyu, however, found the breakthrough for the log leaders three minutes before the break after being put through by Passmore Bernard.
This one will now be decided upon in the boardroom.
Teams:
Chicken Inn: E. Chipezeze, M. Jackson, C. Matawu, B. Mbiriri, D. Phiri, M. Katsvairo, P. Bernard, E. Chirambadare, T. Kutinyu, L. Mhlanga, G. Majika
Dongo Sawmill: F. Pfumojena, K. Katandika, D. Maneya, D. Chitsanzara, M. Tapatapa, E. Chikwaikwai, C. Dhuwa (Elias 50 minutes), N.Tigere, P. Madhazi, L. Masibera, D. Coutinho
