Evirom challenge Nchalo’s goal
The Southern Region Football League (SRFL) Premier Division game between leaders Evirom and Nchalo United ended prematurely on Saturday afternoon following a disputed goal.
Evirom, who later drew 1-1 with BNC Produsak on Sunday in Blantyre, have since lodged a complaint to SRFL, vice-general secretary Kingsley Simbeye confirmed.
“We understand that Evirom goalkeeper made a catch of the ball and the referee Rabson Fellow blew for a goal and Evirom protested. We are waiting for a match report before we call for a disciplinary hearing,” said Simbeye yesterday.
Evirom coach Aubrey Nankhuni insisted that the referee had already blown the final whistle when his assistant claimed that Evirom goalkeeper David Taulo caught the ball after it crossed the goal-line.
“It did not end prematurely. The referee said second half would be played 40 minutes, but we played until 42 minutes when Nchalo crossed the ball and our ‘keeper dived to make a save with his arms outstretched and the referee blew the final whistle only for his assistant to claim Nchalo had scored,” Nankhuni said.
Nchalo technical adviser Jones Napolo insisted that they drew the game as the referee “pointed to the centre for the game to restart, but Evirom refused.” In football, a referee’s decision on scoring cannot be reversed after a match.
Going by the referee’s result, Evirom still lead on 28 points from 12 games, at par with second-placed Bvumbwe Research who hammered Luchenza Tea Stars.
Placed third are Cobbe Barracks, who drew 0-0 with Azam Tigers Reserve on Saturday, before beating Ndirande Icons on Sunday.
Saturday results: Chanco 3 Surestream 5, Cobbe Barracks 0 Azam Tigers Reserve 0, Mangochi United 2 Changalume Barracks 1, White Eagles 1 Green Hawks 1, Polytechnic 0 Machinga ADD 1, Chitakale 3 Kabula United 1, Luchenza Tea Stars 1 Max Bullets 2.
Sunday: Zomba United 4 White Eagles 0, Prison United 0 Changalume Barracks 0, Nyasa United 1 Nchalo United 0, Kabula United 1 Surestream 3, BNC Produsak 1 Evirom 1, Cobbe Barracks 1 Ndirande Icons 0, Polytechnic 1 Mangochi Police 1, Luchenza Tea Stars 1 Bvumbwe Research 3, Chanco 3 Chitakale 1.
