WILLIAM STIMA scored a 48th minute stunner that secured a draw for FC Platinum against AS Otoho in a Total Caf Champions League first round first leg encounter at Stade Marien Ngouab in Owando, Congo
Brazzaville yesterday.
The game was, however, marred by Togolese referee Kokou Ntale whose shambolic and embarrassing show got even neutrals on the terraces shaking their heads in disbelief.
The referee clearly chose to defile the refereeing profession by his favouritism, unperturbed that Caf had sent in a referees’ assessor from Burkina Faso, probably after
having got wind of possible behind-the-scenes actions against FC Platinum.
“Everyone saw what was happening here and it’s sad. We are not going anywhere as Africa with such kind of officiating,” said FC
Platinum coach Norman Mapeza in a post- match interview.
Ntale awarded an incredible 16 free kicks to the hosts inside 20 minutes and only stopped when the hosts finally scored exactly in the
20th minute through Matheus Botamba.
A wise referee would, however, have ruled out the goal as the striker was offside when he attempted his first shot at goal which was punched by a diving Petros Mhari. Botamba
later pushed Mhari off the ball to eventually scramble the ball home.
To their credit FC Platinum, even though clearly hard done, kept their cool and stuck to the game plan of trying to catch the hosts against the run of play.Chronicle