Brave Gladiators ‘harassed by officials’

THE Brave Gladiators suffered harassment and biased refereeing against the Democratic Republic of Congo in Kinshasa on Saturday, says the NFA Women’s Football co-ordinator, Jackey Gertze.

The Namibians lost the 2008 Olympic Games qualifier 4-2 in that country, and 5-7 on aggregate, after they drew 3-all in Namibia’s home leg. According to Gertze, her team practically played against the 11 Congolese players plus the four officials from neighbouring Congo Brazzaville, who made everything impossible for the Namibian players.She said despite the psychological intimidation, the Namibians put up a good show.Gertze added that player Stella Williams was the star for the Namibians, saying she played her heart out despite heavy intimidation.”Stella was badly intimidated by the Congolese media the previous day.They (media) circled like flies around her during training sessions and almost made it impossible for her to go through her practice routines,” she said.During the game, Gertze added, all 19 Namibian throw-ins were disallowed, even when they were correctly executed.To make matters worse, defender Emmerencia Fredericks and striker Leandre Lucas were sent off unreasonably, she said.One of their players was badly hurt during the match but the referee ignored her and let the game continue, said Gertze.She added that three of their legitimate goals were disallowed and only two goals from Bianca Fredericks and Williams were allowed to stand.Another ‘heartache’ was that they were not provided with an interpreter during the match or at the pre-match meeting, which caused a total communication gap.The dismayed Gertze described the treatment as unforgiving.She will write to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the international mother body to air her concerns.Although she does not want the match to be replayed, she wants to inform the football bosses about the unfair treatment.”It is totally demotivating for women’s soccer to grow,” said Gertze, a former player, coach and high school teacher.The national women’s side has come of age in recent times after they ended up as runners-up in the Cosafa Castle Cup for women in Zambia last year.The team lost to South Africa in the final of that competition to clinch a silver medal.In the past, the team got astronomical scorelines against tougher and more experienced opponents which also included South Africa.With the setting-up of a women’s football desk at Soccer House, the team has lifted its performance.As for the future, Gertze said they would keep the current team and work towards the 2008 Council of Southern African Football Association (Cosafa) Women Cup and the World Cup qualifiers to start next year.They will attend Mozambique’s Independence Day in June as well as Lesotho Women’s Day later this year.NampaAccording to Gertze, her team practically played against the 11 Congolese players plus the four officials from neighbouring Congo Brazzaville, who made everything impossible for the Namibian players.She said despite the psychological intimidation, the Namibians put up a good show.Gertze added that player Stella Williams was the star for the Namibians, saying she played her heart out despite heavy intimidation.”Stella was badly intimidated by the Congolese media the previous day.They (media) circled like flies around her during training sessions and almost made it impossible for her to go through her practice routines,” she said.During the game, Gertze added, all 19 Namibian throw-ins were disallowed, even when they were correctly executed.To make matters worse, defender Emmerencia Fredericks and striker Leandre Lucas were sent off unreasonably, she said.One of their players was badly hurt during the match but the referee ignored her and let the game continue, said Gertze.She added that three of their legitimate goals were disallowed and only two goals from Bianca Fredericks and Williams were allowed to stand.Another ‘heartache’ was that they were not provided with an interpreter during the match or at the pre-match meeting, which caused a total communication gap.The dismayed Gertze described the treatment as unforgiving.She will write to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the international mother body to air her concerns.Although she does not want the match to be replayed, she wants to inform the football bosses about the unfair treatment.”It is totally demotivating for women’s soccer to grow,” said Gertze, a former player, coach and high school teacher.The national women’s side has come of age in recent times after they ended up as runners-up in the Cosafa Castle Cup for women in Zambia last year.The team lost to South Africa in the final of that competition to clinch a silver medal.In the past, the team got astronomical scorelines against tougher and more experienced opponents which also included South Africa.With the setting-up of a women’s football desk at Soccer House, the team has lifted its performance.As for the future, Gertze said they would keep the current team and work towards the 2008 Council of Southern African Football Association (Cosafa) Women Cup and the World Cup qualifiers to start next year.They will attend Mozambique’s Independence Day in June as well as Lesotho Women’s Day later this year.Nampa