First Division North rocked by match fixing
Shingirai Madondo | Wednesday October 16, 2013 17:57
During the meeting meant to finalise the 2013/14 fixtures, clubs complained about the increasing incidents of match fixing involving referees.
At a meeting held in Francistown on Sunday, the clubs agreed to channel part of their grant money to the remuneration of referees so that the whistle men are rotated to curb match-fixing.
Each club receives an annual grant of P50,000.
Clubs claimed referees from Chobe and Nhabe are the most corrupt. 'It is very hard for one to travel to Kasane or Maun and win a match. Referees there will ensure that teams in those areas get the three points by hook or crook,' lamented Two-Two-Five FC owner, Rivonia Makwati.
He said clubs have been suffering in silence for a long time. He said they have been thinking that the situation will improve but it has worsened.
'It is time to break the silence,' said Makwati. 'Referees in the Nhabe and Chobe regions are biased. Away teams leave those regions shaking their heads in disbelief,' he added.
Green Lovers FC head coach, Othusitse Kootswele claimed that he was once called by a certain referee telling him that he (the referee) would be officiating during their weekend game. 'What was he trying to imply? He wanted me to suggest that he officiates in Green Lovers' favour,' said Kootswele.
He said clubs need to be saved from the corruption. He suggested that to solve the problem, referees must be rotated. 'We are ready to help financially if the money channeled to the referees by the sponsor is not enough,' he said.
Acting First Division North League chairperson, Setlalekgosi Gate said the league committee will meet with the referees' commission to map the way forward.