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LORD OF BARBOURFIELDS . . . Referee Bekezela Makeka has made two huge calls which have triggered controversy at Barbourfields in two big games involving Highlanders

Robson Sharuko Senior Sports Editor
REFEREE Bekezela Makeka could have a huge influence in the destiny of this year’s Premiership title race, whether by design or default, after being caught at the centre of TWO controversial episodes at Barbourfields, which benefited Highlanders on BOTH occasions.
The Hwange referee plunged into the spotlight on Wednesday after 16 minutes of time added on, the biggest chunk of optional time ever added in a domestic Premiership time, were played during the incident-filled league match between Highlanders and Triangle at Barbourfields.

Makeka also sent off Triangle skipper Limited Chikafa and ‘keeper Brighton Chipula for time wasting, with the captain being expelled in the 79th minute, and his goalkeeper following him to the dressing room in the sixth minute of time added on.
Triangle coach Gishon Ntini was also sent to the stands during the stormy contest.

Highlanders scored a minute before the expiry of time added on and their 1-0 victory lifted them top of the Castle Lager Premiership table after rivals Dynamos and Harare City were held to draws by Shabanie Mine and Motor Action in the capital on the same day.

Makeka is empowered by the Fifa Laws of the Game which gives the referee the right to decide “on the time lost in each period (and) an allowance is made in either period for the time lost through:

• Substitutions

• The assessment of players’ injuries

• The removal of injured players from the field of play for treatment

• Time-wasting when the play is stopped for different reasons (e.g. critical weather conditions, goalpost broken, floodlights failure)”

While questions have been raised about Makeka’s 16 minutes of time added on at Barbourfields on Wednesday, given that it’s the first such recorded optional time in the domestic Premiership, research shows that it’s something that can happen in football.

In October last year, 13 minutes of time added on were played during the league match between Manchester City and Swansea, after lengthy delays caused by injuries on both sides, and it’s recorded as the longest English Premiership match in history.

But while Makeka can find justification in the 16 minutes that he added at Barbourfields on Wednesday, he faces huge challenges to convince those who are questioning his impartiality when it comes to Highlanders and accusations that he could play a decisive role in the destiny of this championship race.

On July 7 this year, Makeka was the fourth official when he was at the centre of another very controversial incident, which went in favour of Highlanders at Barbourfields, when CAPS United came to town and battled their way to a goalless draw.

The Green Machine had defender Arnold Chivheya sent off during that epic contest but the big talking point came when, after referee Philani Ncube had awarded the visitors a penalty, Makeka who was the fourth official, stormed onto the field as Bosso players protested that play should have been stopped for offside.

Assistant referee Brighton Nyika had raised his flag for offside but then put it down and when Ncube pointed to the spot, the assistant referee duly took his place on the other side of goal for the penalty kick to be taken but the intervention of Makeka led to a caucus among the match officials leading Ncube to reverse his decision to award CAPS United the spot-kick.

It’s the only recorded incident, in the Premiership this year, where a fourth official has influenced the referee to reverse his decision and this also marked the only incident, in recent times, when a referee has been forced to reverse such a major decision.

Furious CAPS United players mobbed the referee, protesting against his decision to reverse the penalty call, leading to a four-minute stoppage.

For Makeka to be found at the centre of two BIG refereeing calls, both coming at the same stadium and both in favour of the home side, blows away the immunity that he might cling to in pleading that he impartial when it comes to matches involving Bosso.

It also gives ammunition to claims by those who believe that Makeka has turned into the referee that those who make appointments now turn to, when they feel Bosso’s interests need to be protected.

And the part he played in the farce, related to that penalty incident in the match against CAPS United, means the 16 minutes of time added on he gave on Wednesday will be viewed with suspicious eyes in many corners.

But, to look at just the two incidents involving Makeka at Barbourfields, would be unfair in a season when match officials have hogged the limelight for all the wrong reasons.

Referees And Their Madness
April 6, 2013,
Black Rhinos 1, CAPS United 2

Referee Norman Matemera gives CAPS United two disputed penalties which Hardlife Zvirekwi converts.

QUOTE
Jameson Chikombwe, Rhinos defender
“I don’t think that we lost the match. Those were not penalties. It’s unfortunate when such things happen and you have to accept the referee’s decision.”
April 21, 2013,
Rufaro, Dynamos 1, Highlanders 1
Partson Jaure scores six minutes of time added on, after four minutes had been indicated by fourth official Nomore Masundire, and Bosso cry foul that referee Norman Matemera has robbed them of a famous victory.

QUOTE
Highlanders chairman Peter Dube
“We have formally written to the PSL registering our disgruntlement over the way that match was handled. We view the referee’s conduct as a travesty to football justice. It would be fair for a full post-mortem of that period of the game to be conducted. That is exactly what we want.”
April 21, 2013, Sakubva,
Buffaloes 1, Harare City 0
Harare City lose to a controversial penalty and have a goal, scored from a rebound, disallowed for off-side.

QUOTE
Harare City coach Bigboy Mawiwi
“We thought the challenge was too soft to have the penalty given and it didn’t help matters for us because we had our goal disallowed in the sixth minute.”
July 6, 2013, Luveve,
How Mine 1, Dynamos 0
Samba Sithole scores for How Mine but Dynamos officials are unhappy with the way Hwange referee, Hardlife Ndazi, handles the game.

QUOTE
Dynamos team manager
Richard Chihoro
“We do not know if it’s poor officiating or there is a plot to make us lose the race. Maybe there is a team in the championship that is being favoured but, in the end, it does not help our football.”
July 7, 2013, Barbourfields,
Highlanders 0, CAPS United 0
Arnold Chivheya is sent off, referee Philani Ncube awards CAPS a penalty and his assistant, Brighton Nyika, who had his flag up for offside, puts it down and takes his place across goal for the penalty to be taken. Bosso players protest and fourth official, Bekezela Makeka, storms the pitch and after taking to the referees, the decision is reversed.

QUOTE
CAPS United coach Taurai Mangwiro
“It was an unfortunate call, I told the guys to control their tempers and keep focus.”
July 13, 2013, Mandava,
FC Platinum 1, Motor Action 0
Referee Nkosana Nduna awards the hosts a ghost goal after Daniel Vheremu’s attempt does not across the line in the 83rd minute.

QUOTE
Liz Rosen, Motor Action director
“It was very controversial and I’m disappointed. Zifa should act on their referees and something needs to be urgently rectified.”
September 29, 2013, Barbourfields, Highlanders 3, Triangle 2,
Mbada Diamonds Cup
A riveting five-goal thriller remains on the edge until the very final minute when a Triangle attack ends in the Bosso area and there is a clear handball, in an attempt to clear in a match shown on SuperSport, but the referee waves play on.

QUOTE
Gishon Ntini, Triangle coach
“We are really looking forward to that game and as you might not know we have unfinished business with Highlanders. I wasn’t happy with the way we lost to them when we met in the first round of the Mbada Diamonds Cup. I think we played well and deserved to win that match but with the way the match was handled, we were really disadvantaged. We were treated unfairly and now it’s time to revenge.”
October 5, 2013, Morris Depot,
Black Mambas 1, Motor Action 1
Referee Brighton Wagoneka gives Mambas a disputed penalty, which Evans Gwekwerere converts, and then expels Motor Action skipper, Passmore Bernard, for diving when he goes down after a tackle in the box.

QUOTE
Liz Rosen, Motor Action director
“It seems there is a hidden agenda against Motor Action. If they do not want us in the league, they should just come out in the open. We played How Mine in Bulawayo and they scored an own goal but the referee disallowed it for offside. Triangle scored through the side net in Chiredzi and the goal stood while in Zvishavane, FC Platinum were just given a goal out of nothing.”