Referees must be protected

SOCCER
Karriem Martheze

FOOTBALLER Paolo Di Canio of Italy will soon pay the price of his hot-headed action during an English Premier League match between his club Sheffield Wednesday and Arsenal when he allegedly pushed referee Paul Alcock to the ground.

I say allegedly, because Di Canio claims the referee took a dive.

The point I'm trying to make is the importance of protecting referees. Di Canio, I'm afraid, is going to feel the full wrath of the football fraternity -- even if it's only to make an example of him.

The bottom line? Don't abuse the referees ... not physically nor mentally!

Here on the Border they call referees CHEATS in public, and the mother body refuses to tell the media (read that as the public) what happened to the accused Robbie Venter who as president of a district should have known better. Even the referees' chairman, Graham Eastrace appear uninterested in wanting to know the outcome.

This country's most experienced (and I say that with conviction) soccer administrator, our own Cecil Holbrook, is worried about the future of the game here on the Border because of the dwindling amount of referees. This is verified by the fact the EL and District Football Association (ELDFA) play league games without linesmen most of the times.

We all know the pressure that puts on a referee.

In the provincial league of Fab (Football Association of Border) one referee is known to have officiated in seven consecutive matches involving one team. Now that could be one of two things: either the referee is out to gun that team, or there is a stark scarcity of referees.

I hope it is the latter.

FIRST DIVISION

Congrats to Tornado for their first points in the tough First Division league.

Now for their first win.

SECOND DIVISION

The provisional fixtures handed to the current Second Division clubs might fall away.

Nothing has yet been finalised, and Vally Brink the part-time administrator has the unenviable job to fend off all the irate calls from impatient clubs wanting to know when soccer on the division kicks off.

What is official is that the powers that be are sitting on the matter this weekend, and by Monday we ought to know whether there's going to be one combined EP-Border-Transkei league or not.

There's also the idea to appoint a fulltime administrator to be responsible for the combined league. And even if they opt for a league in each province comprising 10 teams each, the SA Football Association (Safa) still want one fulltime person to oversee the whole political province.

I cannot see one more equipped both in character and experience than Brink as the person for that important duty.

U14 NATIONALS

It looks as if the days of cheating in inter-provincial tournaments are over.

Every player at the U14 inter-provincial tournament was individually scrutinised and those that appear suspect underwent bone x-rays to determine their real age.

Of the boys tested, the oldest has been found to be 17 years and six months old.

Are we surprised?

At the recent EL Primary Schools finals there were instances where half of one school team changed dramatically when proper checks were made before the finals.

The teachers involved in this type of skulduggery are not worthy of their professions to teach and guide children through life.

ALICE

The Victoria East Taxi Association-sponsored tournament was succesfully completed in which 64 clubs participated.

This is a job well done considering that Heritage Day ran out of natural light to play extra time.

The final on Saturday between Ferreira Goal Fighters and Rangers went to extra time before Fighters walked off 3-2 winners.

Congratulations to president Ali Kganedi for their success.

BUFFALO FLATS

Buffalo Flats Association brought inter-district champions Elfa (EL Football Association) down to earth with a bang by beating them 1-0 in a friendly last weekend.

Did I mention a David-Goliath fight last week?

A brilliant solo run by Graham Perrin immortalised the striker in the eyes of chairman Simon Adams.

Who can blame Adams?

Congrats.

ELFA

Riverside retained the FA Cup when they overcame a plucky Parkside Sporting side 2-1 last weekend.

Sporting suffered a blow with the sending-off of Kenneth Smith for a deliberate handball which Joseph Shaw slotted home.

But so is the fighting spirit of Sporting that they fought back to level terms with a scorcher from Sean van Dyk.

But the tricky midfielder Dino Weitz delivered the coup de tat when he blasted home the winner for Riverside.

Congrats Riverside.

KING SOCCER

King Spurs have done a good thing for the development of the game by lending out their players during the Second Division off-season to lower clubs.

Nerina FC gained the coaching and playing services of Keith Ellis and showed the intended improvement.

Brighton FC got Leon Christoffel and Mokkie Mopp, and Aces FC Alvin Japhta, Chancy Winnaar and Theo Mackay.

KING TRAGEDY

Diamond FC suffered a severe blow with the death of their chairman Gary Peters in an accident last weekend.

Peters led his club to the Farrers Cup competition, and finals of the Kwitsa knockout and runners-up in the league.

His leadership will be sorely missed.

Funeral arrangements will be finalised this weekend.

ZOLA DUNYWA

Popular administrator Zola Dunywa was appointed the acting manager of the Bafana Bafana national team to play Angola tomorrow.

Besides being Border's national executive member, Dunywa at one stage was the acting chief of Safa when the president and CEO were out of the country.