Josaya’s phone call ends CRFL game

The Central Region Football League (CRFL) chairperson Dini Josaya Banda reportedly took football administration into the domain of officiation by ordering a premature end of a match at Dedza Stadium on Sunday.

It took Banda’s mobile phone instruction to end, barely after four minutes into the game match between Dedza Young Soccer’s Premier Division against Ntchisi Wanderers, who have since been awarded maximum points on the premise of the hosts no-show.

Banda insisted yesterday that he told Ntchisi to leave as the game could not start at 3:45 pm.

“I phoned the Ntchisi official who had contacted our general secretary Bernard Harawa, to complain about Dedza’s no-show, to hand over the phone to the referee [Grover Kamwendo] who refused to talk to me. As chair, I had to show my power and as per league rules,” argued Banda.

While admitting that ending a match is a referee’s jurisdiction, Banda, who took the call while in Lilongwe, claimed that Kamwendo favoured Dedza. Harawa said it was unfortunate that the game ended prematurely. Recently, a referee also reversed a red card given over a mistaken identity in the league.

“My personal opinion is that, in real sense Dedza did not show up. But the mere reason that they [Ntchisi] started the game, it means that they agreed [with the late kick-off].I told Josaya that we had no mandate to end the game, but he insisted that it was late,” said Harawa.

Kamwendo said he was rendered helpless after Ntchisi left the pitch and took off their uniforms. Ntchisi chairperson Yona Kapindira, who apparently returned from the phone conversation to find the game in progress, also insisted that the game did not kick-off.

Dedza has since appealed against CRFL decision. Harawa said an executive committee meeting will decide based on Dedza and other submissions.

“Soon after the resumption, in a space of five minutes of play, the coach for Ntchisi Mr. Malenga approached the fourth official and then he commanded his players to come out of the pitch, causing the abandonment,” wrote Dedza team manager Andy Bunya and secretary Yamikani Kachale.