Bondo gets backing after Chiefs criticism
Boitumelo Khutsafalo | Friday February 26, 2016 16:51
This follows complaints about some of referee Joshua Bondo’s decisions in the big Mascom Top 8 semi final clash between Mochudi Centre Chiefs and Township Rollers. Chiefs cried foul over the way Botswana’s top referee handled the match.
“I cannot talk anything about the game. I am very annoyed; the boys played well and I can’t complain.
They were focused and they wanted to win but we were frustrated by the officiating,” Chiefs’ mentor, Mike Sithole said after the game. Some Chiefs supporters have also expressed their displeasure at the way the game was officiated. Some even suggested that Bondo be excused from handling their games.
However, Leaketsa said they have not received anything official from Chiefs and therefore will not treat it as an official complaint.
“I think our people lack education as far as refereeing is concerned. Referees take decisions based on the rules of the game and at times people just complain because they are not aware of the new changes in the rules or simply because they don’t understand the laws of the game,” he said. Leaketsa said Bondo is a top referee and together with other excelling officials, will continue to handle big games because of their rank.
“We cannot take a referee who has not been accredited to CAF or FIFA to officiate in a game between England and Zebras, for example.
The referee for that match must be of high standard and will be up to the task with the demands pertaining to that game,” he said.
Leaketsa said a game between Chiefs and Rollers needs a top referee and there is no doubt that Bondo is a top referee who deserves to officiate such game.
“As far as we are concerned, no one including Chiefs has challenged any decisions taken by Bondo. We want to teach people about this profession. Our referees are growing but people do not appreciate what they are doing and this limits their growth,” he said.
He said with the local league growing every season, it presents a challenge to the referees and helps them grow.
The relationship between Bondo and Chiefs has always been frosty. Two seasons ago, two of their key players, Pontsho Moloi and Michael Mogaladi together with club official, Sebele Morakanyane were suspended following an incident that happened after their match against Rollers.
Rollers had taken a 3-2 away lead in the first leg of the Mascom Top 8 semi final. Chiefs needed a win of more than three goals in the second leg to advance to the final. They scored two goals before Rollers were awarded a penalty by Bondo. The game ended 2-1 and Rollers advanced through an away goal rule.
The two players and official were charged with a count of misconduct for allegedly attacking Bondo after the match.
Chiefs and Bondo were also at each other’s throat in 2010 when the referee had to call-off a tie between the Kgatleng side and TAFIC with five minutes remaining. Chiefs officials poured into the pitch to protest the referee’s decision and since then their relationship with the referee has never been rosy.