There was drama during the Makana Local Football Association (LFA) Easter soccer tournament at Fiddlers' Green last weekend when the referee came under attack, almost scuppering one of the games.
There was drama during the Makana Local Football Association (LFA) Easter soccer tournament at Fiddlers' Green last weekend when the referee came under attack, almost scuppering one of the games.
Defending Makana LFA league champions Cameroon were up against Golden Stars in the second match of the tournament. It was the second half of the match and the score was 5-2, with Cameroon on the losing end. One of the Cameroon defenders was red-carded.
When, a few minutes later, a second Cameroon player committed a foul and was also red-carded, the idea of finishing the match with only nine in the line-up was all too much for the frustrated players. They rushed at referee Litha Tyala, who ran away, fearing for his safety.
The Golden Stars players and coaches then got involved, trying to stop the angry Cameroon players and president of the Makana LFA, Ayanda Kota, then stepped in. It looked like the match would have to be stopped, apart from anything else because the referee was still in shock – his mouth was bleeding, apparently after a punch from one of the Cameroon players.
The league's disciplinary committee quickly met and everyone was expecting Cameroon to be expelled from the tournament but, as official Xolani Ncikwe explained later, in the spirit of the game the alleged puncher and the ref shook hands, the match continued and Cameroon played all their other scheduled matches.
