The Safa Vhembe Regional League game between Ngwenani Young Chiefs and SMSA FC, which was played at the Tshedza Primary School Grounds in Thohoyandou on Sunday afternoon, ended in controversy.
Young Chiefs were by far the better side throughout the first half. Mayanyere, as they are widely known, were leading 3-1 at half time. Their bulldozer striker, Thendo "Dikita" Mathobo, scored the first two goals within the first 15 minutes of the game. Tshillilo Khavhatondwi scored the third in the 29th minute.
The home side pulled one back via Osedza Musetha towards the end of the first half. SMSA further reduced the margin through Madzulo Mudzanani, seven minutes into the last stanza.
The situation took an ugly turn after SMSA had scored the equalising goal shortly before the final whistle. The players, officials and fans of Young Chiefs were not happy with the referee's decision. They confronted him in anger. They argued that the goal was illegitimate on the basis that it was scored after their goalkeeper had been kicked during the scramble that occurred within the box shortly before the goal was scored.
The referee, Mr Mpho Mphigalale, stood by his decision, but this only prompted the officials, players and fans of Young Chiefs to assault him with various objects. The lone referee tried to run away, but he could not escape as the angry mob immediately caught up with him. They continued to assault him while he was pleading with them to have mercy on him.
Realising that his life was at stake, Mr Mphigalale decided to make peace with the mob by admitting that the goal was illegitimate and that he would award Young Chiefs a free kick, following the so-called kicking-of-the-goalkeeper incident that occurred before the goal was scored. Still trembling in fear, the referee, who was surrounded by the players and fans of Chiefs, went back to the pitch and ordered that the game should restart from inside the penalty box for Chiefs as a free kick.
The referee's decision did not sit well with the players and officials of SMSA. They felt that they were denied a legitimate goal and that the referee's decision to disallow the goal was taken under duress. They refused to continue with the game. The referee was forced to blow the final whistle. Both the match officials and the clubs were still to submit their match reports to the office at the time of our going to press.