OnSport Reporter
Zebra Revolution fumes after disallowed goal
Zebra Revolution were left fuming after Allan Tamburikai’s well-executed bicycle kick was ruled offside in the side’s 3-2 defeat to Megawatt FC at White City Stadium B-Arena on Sunday.
What made the controversy worse was the fact referee, Charles Mutero, initially signaled for a goal, but the far-side assistant flagged for offside, sparking violent scenes as players from both teams exchanged blows, resulting in Megawatt goalkeeper Njabulo Dube being sent off.
Megawatt appeared well on course to grab the maximum points, racing to a 3-0 lead in the first half, courtesy of goals from captain Admire Banda, Chris Ncube, and hard-running Hamilton Gomba.
However, Zebras rallied back in the second half, with enterprising Mayibongwe Ndlovu pulling one back before Tamburikai scored the second. With the home team piling on the pressure, Tamburikai latched onto a cross and acrobatically volleyed home to send the fans into raptures in the 87th minute.
The joy was short-lived as the goal was ruled out.
When the referee consulted his assistant, the decision stood, and just as it was signaled, players from both teams attacked each other, and a few fans joined in as security battled to control the situation.
A brief stoppage ensued, and when sanity finally prevailed, Dube was red-carded, and play resumed. It was too little, too late for Zebra to salvage a point.
A Zebra official, who commented on condition of anonymity, revealed that there is a plot against their team to get them relegated. “We know the names of officials in the league who have spoken right in our faces that we will be relegated this year. When such things happen, it confirms it. This is not football. We are pouring resources into this, but what do we get in the end? It’s unfair; we will sit down as the executive of the club and map the way forward.
We didn’t complain about the two goals that they scored, which we thought were not supposed to stand, as the scorers appeared to be offside. When we score a clear goal, it’s ruled out. Honestly, tell me what that is,” said a fuming Zebra official.
According to the official, the Revolution family is doubting the authenticity of these decisions as it’s the eighth game where a referee has overturned a goal decision. “We play a beautiful game and most teams do not take us for easy opponents but the results seem to be determined off the pitch.
We will continue to play at our best and it’s a matter of time before the hidden hands are exposed as we are currently chasing up on a good lead left by a careless board member whose tongue slipped during a conversation indicating that Mshoza project must not succeed.”
With the curtain coming down on the SRSL, controversy is hogging the limelight, as tempers flared in the match played yesterday between Bulawayo Warriors and Hwange at the same venue, after Lucky Nyathi’s lob was disallowed.
Zebra sit in 15th position with 24 points, in the relegation zone, while Megawatt moved up the table to joint fifth position with 40 points from 25 matches.
