Hooliganism stops TAFIC, Chiefs clash

CALISTUS KOLANTSHO
Correspondent | Thursday March 11, 2010 00:00

 

Match officials were intimidated throughout the tie with Chiefs officials and fans led by chairman Ernest Molome storming the pitch to protest referee, Joshua Bondo's decision. Midfielder, Dirang Moloi went down just outside the box and Chiefs' officials were incensed when the referee failed to award a foul. Chiefs' players went after Bondo but the referee kept them at bay as he threatened to flash a red card. Molome and some Chiefs fans forced their way into the pitch, baying for the referee's blood. But security officers managed to get the situation under control.

With 10 minutes to go, Lesego Galenamotlhale gave Chiefs a 2-1 lead. TAFIC players swarmed the referee arguing that the ball had gone out before Othusitse 'Jabu' Pilane crossed for Galenamotlhale to score. Assistant referee, Ketlogetswe Goitsemodimo came under attack from TAFIC players for his failure to raise his flag to signal that the ball had rolled out. The players threatened to assault Goitsemodimo.  Seeing that the situation was getting out of hand, Bondo called off the game. A TAFIC official was injured in the head after he was hit by a beer bottle thrown by supporters. Police arrested one supporter after the incident. 

TAFIC had taken the lead in the 18th minute through Kemmonye Elijah before Tshepo 'Talk Talk' Motlhabankwe equaliser in the 43rd minute.

TAFIC chairperson, Phenyo Pelaelo absolved his players from blame saying they had a right to complain. He said it was unfair that nothing was done when Chiefs players confronted the referee. 'Our players did not attack the assistant referee. His decision was wrong. I also saw that the ball had gone out but he just put his flag down. This is a shame. We saw a red card being taken out but was not issued to any Chiefs players. They were favoured,' he said. Pelaelo said his team could have won the game if the referee was fair.

Chiefs' coach, Wesley Mondo said he was disappointed with the way TAFIC players reacted after the second goal.He said the players showed indiscipline. Selebi-Phikwe Regional Football Association assistant chairperson, Masego Ntsatsi said they have long requested the town council to install new locks at the stadium gates but this has not happened. He said the hosts, in this case TAFIC, should provide security. 'The referee must not start the game if he feels that the security is not enough. The security company must also bring enough guards, not what we saw at the game. The guards were not enough. They must not let anybody enter the field. We should not depend on the police for security,' said Ntsatsi.

He said that by-law officers are tasked with ensuring that supporters do not enter the stadium with alcohol but they are failing to do so. Ntsatsi stated that action must be taken against Chiefs because their officials were the first to attack the referee. 'Molome should lead by example. When he entered the field, he was showing supporters that it is possible to do so. That brought fear to the referees,' he said.