FIFA referee Msungama gets Blantyre derby

 National Football Referees Association has assigned Mwayi Msungama to officiate Sunday’s Blantyre derby between rivals FCB Nyasa Bullets and Mighty Mukuru Wanderers at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.

The Fifa referee, who is a private practice lawyer, will officiate the match alongside first assistant Pondamali Tembo and second assistant Mussa Grant.

Fourth official for the match is Zebron Lengani while retired referee Michael Makoto, who is Cosafa referees’ instructor, will be match assessor.

This is the second time for Msungama to officiate the Blantyre  derby this year after he officiated first round derby which ended goalless in July.

Grant was also part of the first round derby officiating panel alongside Happiness Mbandambanda while Mayamiko Kanjere was fourth official and Maxwell Mtonga was match assessor.

Meanwhile, both Wanderers and Bullets have welcomed the panel for the Sunday match.

Wanderers chief executive officer Roosevelt Mpinganjira said the referees should be impartial.

On his part, Bullets chief administration officer Albert Chigoga said: “My word of advice is that they should be on top of their game.

“It has come with a lot of interests considering the level of competition in the TNM Super League. Let them apply laws fairly and correctly.”

In 2021, the Blantyre derby ended prematurely following crowd trouble as Wanderers supporters protested referee Gift Chiko’s decisions to disallow Nomads goal for a foul