BA, Tigers in ball squabble

BITTER rivals Tigers and Blue Waters could not complete their premiership encounter on Sunday night after a row over balls, which were apparently not visible in their match at the Independence Stadium.

The match was called off by referee Sakeus Kweyo 15 minutes into the second half, with the score at 1-1. Both sides have played 14 matches, with Tigers on 22 points, while BA has 21.All other teams have now played 15 matches in total.The home team, Black Africa, is said to have provided balls for the match which Tigers players and officials claimed were not visible enough for their players, and especially their goalkeeper.Tigers captain Nelson Akwenye told The Namibian Sport yesterday that they were generally not happy with the balls that BA used as they were “white on one side and black on the other”, making them difficult for his players to see.BA had only six balls for the game, instead of the required seven, with all of them the same type.He said they played the entire first half under difficult conditions, but at halftime informed the fourth official, Lazarus Shigwedha, about their predicament.”The fourth official agreed, as he could also not see the ball clearly while in play, and ordered the opposing team to use different balls that were more identifiable during play,” he said.He said this was done, but only four balls were available after Tigers also provided theirs, making it difficult for the game to progress at the required rate.He said referee Kweyo called off the match because of the ball shortage, but BA were not happy that Tigers used two of their own balls in the second half.Tigers coach Bobby Samaria said he did not want to comment on the matter, and the league administrators should explain the situation to the media.BA coach Ronnie Kanalelo told The Namibian Sport that he had never seen a situation where a home team was forced to use balls provided by the visiting team.”We were comfortable with the balls that we brought for the match because they were suited for our style of play.The balls we use are generally lighter and are often bumpy.The balls are actually meant for wet conditions and that suits our players well.In terms of visibility, my players had no problem with it and I don’t understand why the other players had a problem,” he said.Kanalelo, who replaced Samaria as coach of BA earlier in the second round of the season, said although they had to give in to the request of Tigers to provide different balls, he was not happy that the home team had to be subjected to the desires of the visiting team.”It is standard practice that the home team provides the balls as well as the ball boys.But in this case, Tigers wanted to use their own balls, while they also fielded their own ball boys who in the end intimidated our ball boys that we have assigned for those duties,” he said.Kanalelo was also accused of repeatedly kicking his own balls upfield and at times disrupting the match.He denied this, saying he only did that once, while the game was not in play.Kanalelo said he also did not know of any rule prescribing what type of balls should be used during day or night matches.”We have been using those balls in earlier matches and they have worked well for us,” he said.Namibia Premier League administrator Tovey //Hoebeb was still waiting for the referee’s report on what action should be taken.At this stage, it appears that the match will be replayed after the Easter weekend.Both sides have played 14 matches, with Tigers on 22 points, while BA has 21.All other teams have now played 15 matches in total.The home team, Black Africa, is said to have provided balls for the match which Tigers players and officials claimed were not visible enough for their players, and especially their goalkeeper.Tigers captain Nelson Akwenye told The Namibian Sport yesterday that they were generally not happy with the balls that BA used as they were “white on one side and black on the other”, making them difficult for his players to see.BA had only six balls for the game, instead of the required seven, with all of them the same type.He said they played the entire first half under difficult conditions, but at halftime informed the fourth official, Lazarus Shigwedha, about their predicament.”The fourth official agreed, as he could also not see the ball clearly while in play, and ordered the opposing team to use different balls that were more identifiable during play,” he said.He said this was done, but only four balls were available after Tigers also provided theirs, making it difficult for the game to progress at the required rate.He said referee Kweyo called off the match because of the ball shortage, but BA were not happy that Tigers used two of their own balls in the second half.Tigers coach Bobby Samaria said he did not want to comment on the matter, and the league administrators should explain the situation to the media.BA coach Ronnie Kanalelo told The Namibian Sport that he had never seen a situation where a home team was forced to use balls provided by the visiting team.”We were comfortable with the balls that we brought for the match because they were suited for our style of play.The balls we use are generally lighter and are often bumpy.The balls are actually meant for wet conditions and that suits our players well.In terms of visibility, my players had no problem with it and I don’t understand why the other players had a problem,” he said.Kanalelo, who replaced Samaria as coach of BA earlier in the second round of the season, said although they had to give in to the request of Tigers to provide different balls, he was not happy that the home team had to be subjected to the desires of the visiting team.”It is standard practice that the home team provides the balls as well as the ball boys.But in this case, Tigers wanted to use their own balls, while they also fielded their own ball boys who in the end intimidated our ball boys that we have assigned for those duties,” he said. Kanalelo was also accused of repeatedly kicking his own balls upfield and at times disrupting the match.He denied this, saying he only did that once, while the game was not in play.Kanalelo said he also did not know of any rule prescribing what type of balls should be used during day or night matches.”We have been using those balls in earlier matches and they have worked well for us,” he said.Namibia Premier League administrator Tovey //Hoebeb was still waiting for the referee’s report on what action should be taken.At this stage, it appears that the match will be replayed after the Easter weekend.