Derby Refs’ mes
National Football Referees Association has succumbed to FCB Nyasa Bullets pressure to change the officiating panel for tomorrow’s Blantyre derby against their age-old rivals Mighty Mukuru Wanderers at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.
But the decision has not gone down well with the Nomads who have asked Super League of Malawi (Sulom) to maintain the initial panel.
Initially, centre referee Mayamiko Kanjere was assigned to handle the match with Yohane Chiutika as first assistant referee.
However, following the changes, referee Easter Zimba will take charge of the match with Clemence Kanduku as first assistant referee.
Pondamali Tembo has been maintained as second assistant referee while David Chinoko retains his role as fourth official. Moffat Champiti will also keep his role as match assessor.
Bullets lodged a complaint to Sulom rejecting Kanjere as centre referee allegedly because he messed their opening match against Dedza Dynamos which ended in a draw.
He was assigned alongside Pondamali Tembo and Yohane Chiutika as assistant referees. Cedric Mwachumu was fourth official with Moffat Champiti as match assessor.
Earlier Bullets chief administration officer Albert Chigoga in an interview yesterday confirmed having asked NFRA through Super League of Malawi (Sulom) to replace Kanjere and Chiutika.
A letter from Bullets to Sulom dated May 1 reads in part: “As a club we would like to bring to your attention that during the league’s opening match on April 6 2024 in Dedza where FCB Nyasa Bullets played against host Dedza Dynamos, Mayamiko Kanjere and Yohane Chiutika who were referee and first assistant referee respectively performed poorly to the dismay of our team officials and supporters.”
Wanderers, on the other hand, already blacklisted Kanjere from officiating the derby last season.
But in a letter to Sulom dated May 2 2024 signed by chief executive officer Panganeni Ndovi, the Nomads have asked Sulom to reconsider the change to ensure fairness.
Reads the letter in part: “We urge Sulom to reconsider this decision and to take appropriate action to ensure that the officiating panel for our derby game is selected in a fair and transparent manner, in accordance with the established rules and regulations of the league.”
Sulom general secretary Williams Banda yesterday said they forwarded the complaint to NFRA.
