Shabanas Ongoro, MCFs Kimeu decry poor officiating in the NSL

With only five rounds done, a number of coaches are on record claiming blatant errors which they regret to be ruining the beautiful game.

On Wednesday, Shabana FC head coach Joseph Ongoro blamed the referees in charge of their match against Modern Coast Rangers, saying he was biased towards their hosts.

“Truth be told, officiating is very poor. This trend is going to really slow down our football growth significantly if it is not tamed. Let fairness prevail, let’s grow the sport on the cardinal principle of fairness,” said Ongoro.

He lamented the 2-2 draw they registered at the Serani Grounds was forced by the referee of the day, although there were two red cards against their opponents Rangers.

“If you look at the penalty they were awarded, there are questions about it. This is not happening in this match only, I have been denied clean goals, penalties even at home,” claimed the coach.

In Kakamega at the Bukhungu Stadium, MCF coach Joseph Kimeu was equally frustrated with officiating, as they battled to a 1-1 stalemate against hosts Vihiga Bullets.

“It was clearly our day, we should have gone home with three points. I don’t know what we are going to do about poor officiating in our league, because you complain and the Fourth Official accepts there was a mistake but nothing is done.

“We are promised they will correct but the same mistakes are repeated. I don’t know how far this will go because it is becoming too much,” a disappointed Kimeu said.

Just before the current season kickoff, a number of elite referees failed the mandatory endurance test, arguably justifying the claims of poor standards.

However, deliberate biases cannot be ruled out, although no evidence of such has been tabled by the aggrieved parties at least by now in the ongoing season.