FIFA Referee Mathews Hamalila has come under great criticism following Saturday’s 1-1 between Power Dynamos and FC MUZA.
Fans have come out to criticize how Hamalila faired in the match with specific incidences being pointed out as ‘quastionable’.
However, Power Dynamos CEO Gibson Chaloba was diplomatic about his answer when asked about the officiating in the match.
Chaloba told the ZamFoot Crew that everyone watched the match and the match commissioner will give his report.
“The supporters, the officials, the players, everyone saw how the game went on and how officiating was. I will not critically point out to say the officiating was bad.The commissioner was here and will be able to give the report and as power Dynamos we will give our side of the story as regards to officiating,” Chaloba told the ZamFoot Crew.
“I need to quickly state that we need to improve officiating in Zambia if we are to develop Zambian football of late. We have heard alot of poor officiating from zambian referees and has created a concern particularly amongst the people running football.”
” These people are running families and the officiating needs to be fair. Protect the lives of these guys ,these people are running families and the officiating needs to be fair, when you lose or win you do it with dignity, ” he added.
Chaloba also bemoaned the talk of backward practices of witchcraft and the like in Zambian football.
“And we need to put our heads together so that we improve this area of football,” he said.
“Going forward we shouldn’t be able to talk about witchcraft in football those are old age kind of situations that are happening .. and the message to power Dynamos players is very clear we are not here to play things of old age football where you come in first or come in last, we believe in fair play, we are here play clean football and excellent football and we want to win fairly with everyone,” he added.
Joshua ‘Budo’ Mutale put Power Dynamos in the lead before Kondwani Mhango could level matters for the visitors.
Referees have come under heavy criticism of late following a number of questionable decisions in the Zambian top flight and lower divisions.
Source: ZamFoot
