Mighty FC chairperson Mighty Tjale
By: Refilwe Sebola
Mighty FC Chairperson Mighty Tjale has firmly expressed his dissatisfaction following the team’s recent 2-1 loss to Lebash FC in an ABC Motsepe League match last Friday.
Tjale directly attributes the defeat to what he deems questionable officiating by referee Bethuel Makgatho, particularly criticizing the controversial penalty awarded to Lebash, which he believes was entirely unjustified. This penalty was called for a supposed foul involving a Lebash striker and a Mighty defender, who was allegedly stepped on.
In light of this situation, Mighty FC is poised to take decisive action, considering escalating their complaint to the league’s Disciplinary Committee. Tjale underscored concerns regarding Makgatho’s officiating, pointing out that he had been suspended before.
“This referee has only just been reinstated following a suspension last season. His competence has come into serious question, and we are not alone in voicing these concerns. Other teams, including Black Leopard, Maruleng Celtic, Dolphins, and City Motors, have also raised alarms about his officiating,” he stated emphatically.
Moreover, Tjale has confirmed that he, alongside other affected teams, has formally submitted complaint letters to the SAFA Provincial Committee, demanding Makgatho’s removal from officiating duties due to ongoing performance issues and concerns over his age.
In response, SAFA Provincial Secretary Refilwe Khosa noted that no formal complaints have yet been recorded from the teams at this time. Khosa clarified that Makgatho faced suspension last season for failing to attend a Disciplinary Committee meeting linked to his officiating of a match between Mighty FC and Eleven Fast Tigers, despite not being the designated referee for that particular game. In that instance, the appointed referee failed to show up, and one of the clubs reportedly invited Makgatho to step in as a substitute.
Currently, it is clear that Mighty FC is weighing its options regarding this issue. The team began the season with a powerful performance, winning their first two matches and briefly claiming the top spot in the league prior to the defeat against Lebash. Following this setback, the team finds itself in sixth place with a total of six points from three games.
Mighty FC