Opinion
Nov 26, 2006
<b>Batte sets the mark</b><br>SATURDAY’S 2006-2007 Super League opener between SC Villa and KCC at Nakivubo was notable for centre-referee Francis Batte’s commonsense-laden performance.<br>Super League referees have enjoyed a steamy romance with controversy, particular incidents over the past
Batte sets the mark
SATURDAY’S 2006-2007 Super League opener between SC Villa and KCC at Nakivubo was notable for centre-referee Francis Batte’s commonsense-laden performance.
Super League referees have enjoyed a steamy romance with controversy, particular incidents over the past decade or so too innumerable to examine.
Last season, even the relative sanity of Lawrence Mulindwa’s regime did not guard against refereeing farce. Haruna Kebba famously led to the violent abandonment of a KCC-Villa encounter after making three decisions in the span of a minute.
All the more reason to laud Batte’s performance on Saturday, which, apart from setting the benchmark for officiating standards in the league this season, should earn referees some much-needed trust.
Ashes-to-ashes Poms pay price of hype
AUSTRALIA’S cricketers near-sadistic demolition of England in the first Ashes Test in Brisbane will serve as a stark reminder to the Englishmen of their status in world cricket –– not number one.
At stumps on Day Four at the time of writing, Australia were left with the formality of claiming five wickets this morning to secure a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
England’s 2-1 Ashes victory over Australia in 2005 was a huge upset; and upsets do not come along at every turn.
England started the series on the back of an avalanche of optimism (hype?) and a suspect squad. They will duly pay the price.
SATURDAY’S 2006-2007 Super League opener between SC Villa and KCC at Nakivubo was notable for centre-referee Francis Batte’s commonsense-laden performance.
Super League referees have enjoyed a steamy romance with controversy, particular incidents over the past decade or so too innumerable to examine.
Last season, even the relative sanity of Lawrence Mulindwa’s regime did not guard against refereeing farce. Haruna Kebba famously led to the violent abandonment of a KCC-Villa encounter after making three decisions in the span of a minute.
All the more reason to laud Batte’s performance on Saturday, which, apart from setting the benchmark for officiating standards in the league this season, should earn referees some much-needed trust.
Ashes-to-ashes Poms pay price of hype
AUSTRALIA’S cricketers near-sadistic demolition of England in the first Ashes Test in Brisbane will serve as a stark reminder to the Englishmen of their status in world cricket –– not number one.
At stumps on Day Four at the time of writing, Australia were left with the formality of claiming five wickets this morning to secure a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
England’s 2-1 Ashes victory over Australia in 2005 was a huge upset; and upsets do not come along at every turn.
England started the series on the back of an avalanche of optimism (hype?) and a suspect squad. They will duly pay the price.