SHAMVA – The Chibuku Super Cup quarter-finals tie between Simba Bhora and Highlanders at Wadzanai Stadium in Shamva on Sunday was halted at the 78th minute and eventually abandoned after Bosso players walked off the field.
Highlanders players protested a call by referee Cecil Ngwezere to award Simba Bhora a dubious penalty with almost ten minutes left to full time.
Ngwereze pointed to the spot following a rough challenge by Peter Muduhwa on striker Tymon Machope in front of goal.
Led by their captain Ariel Sibanda, the Bosso players protested the decision, walking off the field of play.
The move led to a lengthy halt before the referee blew his final whistle after Bosso players remained adamant.
Speaking to the media after the match, Highlanders coach Kelvin Kaindu did not hide his disappointment at the poor officiating: “It is quite disappointing if this is what we are going to display in our local league,
“It (poor officiating) is affecting our sponsors and the league.”
Adding to his comments, Kaindu said he did not instruct his players to leave the pitch in protest.
“I did not tell them (players) to walk off the pitch. It is not a good thing if we are not completing matches.”
Simba Bhora coach Tonderai Ndiraya said: “It is bad to advertise football in this manner. The fans paid their hard earned money to watch football and be entertained but we give them this? It is very unfortunate.
He added: “I would not want to speak on behalf of Highlanders. (Abandoning) a match is bad for our football.”
The Premier Soccer League (PSL) will now decide what action to take over the abandonment of the cup tie.
However, according to the 2024 Chibuku Super Cup rules and regulations, Highlanders have been booted out and will be fined.
Reads the rules and regulations: “7.6 If a team refuses to continue to play or leaves the stadium or the field of play before the end of the match, the team will be considered as having lost the match in question.
“The match will be awarded to its opponents on a score line of 3-0 or more if in the case of an abandoned match, the winning team has already reached a higher score at the time the guilty team leaves the field of play.
“The defaulting team shall be banned from participating in the next edition of the Chibuku Super Cup.
“7.7 No appeals may be lodged against these decisions.”
