North referees to boycott Simama games
The Northern Region Referees Commitee (NRRC) has announced that it will boycott Simama Premier League matches after Northern Region Football Association (NRFA) failed to meet their referees’ pay hike demands.
NRRC three weeks ago, communicated to the NRFA that it had adjusted upwards its fees from K1000 to K4,500 per referee, citing increased bus fares, accommodation and food.
NRRC general secretary, Clemence Kanduku, yesterday said NRFA was given three weeks to respond to their demand and the deadline expired without any response from the league runners.
The referees have since concluded that the association’s silence means that their services are not required hence the boycott.
But the NRFC acting chairperson, Zuza Nyondo, pleaded with NRRC to be patient.
Nyondo said they delayed responding as they were waiting for communication from the sponsor Pastor Abraham Simama, who is yet to respond to their appeal to have the league’s sponsorship increased from K3 million.
“We made an appeal to the Pastor during the crowning of Mzuzu University last season to have the sponsorship increased, but up to now he has not responded so, on what basis is the increase coming on? I thought they should have waited for the sponsor first to substantiate their demand,” said Nyondo.
But Kanduku said as an association, they do not deal with the sponsor.
He warned that this weekend they would not officiate games.
“Three days ago, I text Nyondo, making a follow up on the progress but he chose to remain silent,” said Kanduku.
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