The Women’s Soccer League descended into unruliness and ill discipline on Saturday when Poly Babes players and their coach were involved in unsavoury scenes during their match against V Power Angels.
The match eventually ended in a 2-2 draw but it will be remembered for some distasteful scenes after some very ‘un-angelic’ behaviour by Poly Babes.
Their players pushed and shoved the young referee Trevor Nekumbu early in the second half when he awarded a penalty to V Power Angels, while their coach had to be restrained from attacking the referee after he was red-carded and sent away into the stands.
After the match Poly Babes’ coach Dankie Frans said he had enough of Nekumbu’s poor decisions and couldn’t help his outburst.
“I was very unhappy with his officiating. Our players were being fouled the whole time and he never blew for that but then he gave them a penalty. I just asked the ref to officiate fairly so he showed me the red card,” he said.
The vice chairperson of the Namibia Women’s League Julienne Garises however condemned Frans’ behaviour, as well as that of his players.
“This behaviour cannot be condoned. The referees are not always spot on, but these players must set an example and cannot behave like that in front of young players, who look up to them,” she said.
Garises acknowledged that the standard of refereeing needed to improve but said they were working on it.
“We are using young referees in the women’s league and some of them still have shortcomings and are inexperienced. But we are aware of the situation and trying to improve the standard, as these young referees are attending training sessions with more experienced referees during the week,” she said.
The match was a hectic affair, with V Power Angels taking an early lead through a long-range drive by Lydia Naluno, but Poly Babes’ prolific striker Lorraine Jossob equalised two minutes into the second half from a quick counter-attack.
Two minutes later, however, V Power Angels won the contested penalty and with Vitapamue Kamahene converting the spot kick, they went 2-1 ahead.
With five minutes remaining, Poly Babes however won a penalty of their own after Jossob was fouled in the box, and Kanii Kavezeri scored from the spot to give them a share of the spoils.
V Power Angels’ defender Gwenneth Narises won the player of the match award.
The result sees V Power Angels moving up to third on the log on 18 points, while Poly Babes are seventh on 13 points.
Unam Bokkies moved up to second place on 20 points after beating Windhoek City 3-1.
After a goalless first half, Windhoek City took the lead through a penalty by Veuangapi Kambato shortly after the break.
Two goals in three minutes by Esty Amukwaya and Helena Amutana however put Unam ahead, while substitute Audrey Chanakir sealed their victory with a third goal in the final minutes of the match.
Unam striker Esty Amukwaya won the player of the match award.
Gals Goals and Nampol battled it out to a 1-1 draw. After a goalless first half, Twelikondjela Amukoto gave Nampol the lead but Gals Goals struck back when Beverly Uueziua equalised two minutes later.
Gals Goals’ young midfielder Sanna Links won the player of the match award.
Omaheke Queens meanwhile secured their first victory of the season with a 4-0 win over Rehoboth Queens.
Omaheke’s young striker Lucinda Agas was the standout performer and won the player of the match award after scoring a hat trick for Omaheke.
