The ManicaPost
Senior Sports Reporter
MUTARE City Rovers coach, Taku Shariwa, is now convinced that his team is a victim of biased match officiating after going down 1-3 in a midweek Castle Lager Premiership encounter against Triangle at Gibbo Stadium on Africa Day.
Shariwa had refused to speak against match officials on a number of occasions since joining City Rovers, but the youthful gaffer could not stomach it anymore after Wednesday’s match away at Triangle as he made his point clear that his charges were getting a raw deal from match officials week-in week-out.
In a telephone post match interview on Wednesday night, Shariwa said he was now convinced that his team was losing points simply because of biased refereeing.
“I am one person who has never wanted to speak against referees, but after a number of matches getting the same treatment I think it is time I point it out clearly that we are dropping points because of biased refereeing.
“I have seen it happening to us since I joined Mutare City Rovers, but I though it is something that could come to an end at one point.
“There should be an underhand meant to see the downfall of City Rovers. We scored a clear goal and the ball was cleared way after it had crossed the line, but the referee waved play on. We were denied two clear penalties during the match, only to be given a compensatory penalty just before the final whistle.
“This is really affecting our rhythm during matches and it has a huge bearing on the overall result. It has happened to us in the match against Dynamos and I remember the same thing happened against Chicken Inn.
“I can also recall the same things happening even in matches that we ended up winning just like away at Border Strikers. There seems to be a motive behind these biased calls by referees,†fumed Shariwa.
The defeat against Triangle becomes the fifth loss for the Mutare municipality owned outfit, the second in a row after their lacklustre performance against Chicken Inn last Sunday which culminated into yet another morale sapping 1-3 defeat on home turf.
City Rovers will be back at Sakubva Stadium against Bualwayo Chiefs in their next home match.
The Premiership takes a break this weekend to pave way for the national team international friendly against Uganda at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday.
The league is highly likely to take another break next weekend when Zimbabwe takes on the Flames of Malawi in a 2017 Afcon qualifier in Harare.
