EDITOR — I WANT to start by giving a brief description of what I believe soccer is and should be.
Soccer is the world’s most beautiful sport as the legendary Brazilian icon Pele said.
It is a game of contact whose artistry manifests in good play. When rough challenges and foul play are cautioned by the referee, it adds to intrigue, to the thrills and to the tension.
On Sunday, at Rufaro Stadium, Harare giants took on their bitter rivals Highlanders in a match that lived up to its billing. The only blight was the poor performance by the referee who spoiled an otherwise entertaining encounter.
Then there was Christian Epoupa Ntouba’s moment of madness when he head-butted Highlanders defender Peter Muduhwa towards the end of the match.
The incident was duly punished when the Cameroonian star was shown a straight red card.
But when we thought we had seen it all after that nail-biting affair, the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) brewed a shocker when they announced through their president, Philip Chiyangwa, that they had rescinded Epoupa’s red card despite television re-plays showing that the Dynamos striker had planted his head into Muduhwa.
Editor, I am disappointed and fear for the future of the game if rules continue to be thrown out of the window as is the case now.
When it comes to Dynamos, there is obvious bias but it becomes problematic when the custodians of the local game are now openly aiding DeMbare’s quest for championship. What is going on at ZIFA?
ZIFA must not spoil DeMbare’s good run.
No matter the decision, Dynamos coach Loyd Mutasa must do the honourable thing and bench the player.
Charles Gumbanjera,
Harare