UP-Tuks’ 1-0 Varsity Football victory against NWU on Monday night, was overshadowed by referee Thabo Nkosi’s late arrival.
As a result of the Premier Soccer League whistle man’s latecoming, the game was delayed by half an hour. There were reports that Nkosi was stuck in traffic, and the game eventually kicked off at 7.30pm.
NWU soccer institute manager Richard Bokveldt confirmed the reports and said the reason given was that the officials’ car broke down on their way to the Stadium.
Bokveldt said: “Obviously we are disappointed this is unprofessional referees are supposed to be at the stadium two hours early. They say their car broke down and they were also held up by traffic.”
Nkosi and his team did not even warm up when they arrived and started the game immediately. After the long wait, Tuks continued their hoodoo over NWU by registering their third successive victory over their rivals.
They defeated them twice in the opening and final game of USSA championships last season, and the victory on Monday night saw Tuks finish on second position on rthe Varsity Football log with 16 points followed by NWU in third with 13 points.
The two teams will meet again in a space of seven days in Pretoria for the semifinals where NWU are in danger of losing their fourth successive match to the same opponent.
NWU coach Augustine ‘Mthakathi’ Makalakalane said they will not lose again.
“It’s embarrassing for football at this level. What the referee did is unacceptable. The referee doesn’t know how much it takes for the players’ psychological when you’ve done your warm up but still wait for the referee to come. That’s just unfair for the game. It killed the momentum of the game, but we will come back against Tuks next week,” he said.
Makalakane added that the referee was sluggish and that his decisions were doubtful in the game.
Makalakalane’s counterpart Vellios Evangelos said such mistakes happen.
He said: “I’m very happy with the result but not getting carried away. Things like this can happen I forgive the referee, but I hope it doesn’t happen again. I have no complaints.”
By Charles Baloyi sports writer for Daily Sun and Sunday Sun
