The selection of referee Mwayi Msungama to handle Blantyre derby second round match between FCB Nyasa Big Bullets and Mighty Mukuru Wanderers Sunday has sparked fire among the Southern Region referees, Malawi News Sport has learnt.
Msungama has come under attack following allegations that the authorities have allocated him more games than his colleagues.
According to records, Msungama has taken his tally to 12 games in two months meaning that he has now handled eight more games than any other referee in the South.
The allegations have not spared his counterpart Mayamiko Kanjere but his record is slightly lower having handled about four matches in the last two months.
Reacting to the news, one of the referees Shaibu Kasim said he was frustrated with the development but wished Msungama well and respected his bosses’ decision.
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“I do not even remember when I last handled a Super League game as a centre referee. I have always been benched or assigned as a fourth official but I wish him well maybe his performance is good,” he said
Other two referees, who did not want to be mentioned, accused the authorities of hiding behind Football Association of Malawi (Fam) by claiming that some appointments are done at the national football governing body.
“About Msungama being allocated more games than any other referee is true and an open secret. Imagine, he recently went to Lilongwe for a cup game only to return the same day just to officiate a Premier Division game the following day,” the referee lamented.
Msungama will be officiating his 12th game of the season and a back-to-back Blantyre derby.
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He is the only referee with more games than any other referee from the South.
Apparently, Kanjere alongside Zebron Lengani have handled four games each in two months while Gift Chico has handled three games during the same period.
Msungama has for the past two months also handled FDH Bank Cup semifinal match between Wanderers and Mafco, and also Airtel Top 8 Cup second leg between Mafco and Kamuzu Barracks in Lilongwe and five consecutive games in two weeks.
When contacted Msungama did not respond.
On his part, Kanjere denied having officiated more games than any other referee.
“Some other people only want to hide behind my back. I have not done more games than any other referee. If you have the records, go and check,” Kanjere said.
Meanwhile, Southern Region Referees Association (SRRA) Emmanuel Mlauzi did not pick up his phone when contacted on the matter despite several attempts.
However, he was quoted in one of the radio games that they assign referees according to the nature of the game and their performance.
National Referees Football Association Chairperson Patrick Kapanga could not be reached but his general secretary Chris Kalichero said maybe Msungama is a lucky referee.
“Kapanga is the one who does these allocations alongside another official. It is unfortunate that he is not answering his phone but all I can say is that maybe Mwayi Msungama is only a lucky referee or his performance is good,” Kalichero said.
Southern Region has 12 elite referees including Kasim, Zebron Lengani, Mayamiko Kanjere, Honest Maulana, Benson Subili, Chico, Cedrick Mwachumu, Msungama and Kesteni Mnenula apart from the two suspended referees Mike Mwambiyale and Marko Dzimbasekwa.
