BA accuses ref of drunkenness

THE Namibia Premier League game between African Stars and Black Africa set for SKW Field on Wednesday was cancelled after Black Africa alleged that the referee, Matthew Katjimune, was drunk.

Shortly before the scheduled start of the game, Black Africa officials accused Katjimune of being drunk whereupon Katjimune refused to officiate further. Katjimune refused to take a breathalyser test and after lengthy discussions between the match commissioner Boy Boy Ndjadila and officials from both sides, the match was eventually cancelled, leaving about 300 fans angry and disgruntled and demanding their money back.”I’m a professional person.I won’t drink before a match, but my integrity is being questioned now and I refuse to officiate in the match,” Katjimune said.Ndjadila, who is the director of referees for the NFA, stood in as the match commissioner at the last minute after the original match commissioner, Matthew Amadhila, failed to turn up.Ndjadila told Namibia Sport that as far as he was concerned, Katjimune was not drunk.”Black Africa’s assistant coach, (Dirkie Beukes) swore at Katjimune when he walked onto the field, so Katjimune banished him from the touchline.Beukes then came with the story that Katjimune was drunk and then Katjimue refused to officiate further in the match,” Ndjadila said.The second official in charge can take over as referee if the original referee was incapable, but Ndjadila said this can only happen if the original referee is incapable of performing his duties, but as far as I am concerned, Katjimune was not drunk and therefore able of performing his duties.If we allowed a second official to act as referee there would still be a problem since it would give the impression that Katjimune was drunk,” he said.Namibia Premier League (NPL) administrator, Tovey //Hoebeb by late yesterday said they were still waiting for a report by Ndjadila before taking a decision.Katjimune is on the brink of being selected to officiate at the African Cup of Nations finals in Ghana next year.Namibia SportKatjimune refused to take a breathalyser test and after lengthy discussions between the match commissioner Boy Boy Ndjadila and officials from both sides, the match was eventually cancelled, leaving about 300 fans angry and disgruntled and demanding their money back.”I’m a professional person.I won’t drink before a match, but my integrity is being questioned now and I refuse to officiate in the match,” Katjimune said.Ndjadila, who is the director of referees for the NFA, stood in as the match commissioner at the last minute after the original match commissioner, Matthew Amadhila, failed to turn up.Ndjadila told Namibia Sport that as far as he was concerned, Katjimune was not drunk.”Black Africa’s assistant coach, (Dirkie Beukes) swore at Katjimune when he walked onto the field, so Katjimune banished him from the touchline.Beukes then came with the story that Katjimune was drunk and then Katjimue refused to officiate further in the match,” Ndjadila said.The second official in charge can take over as referee if the original referee was incapable, but Ndjadila said this can only happen if the original referee is incapable of performing his duties, but as far as I am concerned, Katjimune was not drunk and therefore able of performing his duties.If we allowed a second official to act as referee there would still be a problem since it would give the impression that Katjimune was drunk,” he said.Namibia Premier League (NPL) administrator, Tovey //Hoebeb by late yesterday said they were still waiting for a report by Ndjadila before taking a decision.Katjimune is on the brink of being selected to officiate at the African Cup of Nations finals in Ghana next year.Namibia Sport