Did Warriors cheat Power?
RONNIE Kasewu and the Kyambogo Warriors should be taking all the credit for coming back to level the best-of-seven FUBA playoff finals after initially going down 3-0.
By Charles Mutebi
RONNIE Kasewu and the Kyambogo Warriors should be taking all the credit for coming back to level the best-of-seven FUBA playoff finals after initially going down 3-0.
But the legitimacy of their comeback has run into doubt following the controversy that surrounded their 90-89 overtime victory in Game 6. The feeling within Power players, coaches and fans is that Kyambogo were massively helped by the referees.
It is a claim dismissed by the Warriors and several observers, who wonder how a team that took a 3-0 series lead has suddenly realised a refereeing bias. Power president Alex Kasendwa says the inequality was in Game 6, not before.
“We lost the other two games fair and square and we didn’t complain,†Kasendwa insisted. “The injustice was in Game 6 and it was so blatant. Our players were being hacked and pulled to the floor and there were no fouls while we were being whistled for simply touching their players.â€
Typical sour-grapping, many will say, but the sight of fans storming the court after Game 6 to attack the referees should force the federation into some response, a statement at least.
Ironically, FUBA’s highest organ of power – president Ambrose Tashobya – might be impotent to address the complaints. Being the patron of the Warriors, Tashobya is an obvious target for Power fans convinced their team is being undercut.
The president insists his hands are free. “It’s tough (having these two positions),†admitted Tashobya. “It’s all in the mind. People forget that I was coach of the Warriors in 2007 when the Falcons came from behind to beat us in the finals. How come people didn’t say (the referees are influenced).â€
Power are set to write a formal complaint about one of Game 6’s referees Hamza Nyambogo, whom they accuse of showing their fans the middle finger during the match and saying profanities towards some Power players after.
The biggest accusation against Nyambogo and co-referee Peter Kirabo, however, is that they ignored a ‘clear foul’ on Ben Komakech with less than 10 seconds left in overtime, which would have given Power the chance to win the game or at least force double-overtime.
Sadly, all this has overshadowed what was a genuinely-gripping contest.
RONNIE Kasewu and the Kyambogo Warriors should be taking all the credit for coming back to level the best-of-seven FUBA playoff finals after initially going down 3-0.
But the legitimacy of their comeback has run into doubt following the controversy that surrounded their 90-89 overtime victory in Game 6. The feeling within Power players, coaches and fans is that Kyambogo were massively helped by the referees.
It is a claim dismissed by the Warriors and several observers, who wonder how a team that took a 3-0 series lead has suddenly realised a refereeing bias. Power president Alex Kasendwa says the inequality was in Game 6, not before.
“We lost the other two games fair and square and we didn’t complain,†Kasendwa insisted. “The injustice was in Game 6 and it was so blatant. Our players were being hacked and pulled to the floor and there were no fouls while we were being whistled for simply touching their players.â€
Typical sour-grapping, many will say, but the sight of fans storming the court after Game 6 to attack the referees should force the federation into some response, a statement at least.
Ironically, FUBA’s highest organ of power – president Ambrose Tashobya – might be impotent to address the complaints. Being the patron of the Warriors, Tashobya is an obvious target for Power fans convinced their team is being undercut.
The president insists his hands are free. “It’s tough (having these two positions),†admitted Tashobya. “It’s all in the mind. People forget that I was coach of the Warriors in 2007 when the Falcons came from behind to beat us in the finals. How come people didn’t say (the referees are influenced).â€
Power are set to write a formal complaint about one of Game 6’s referees Hamza Nyambogo, whom they accuse of showing their fans the middle finger during the match and saying profanities towards some Power players after.
The biggest accusation against Nyambogo and co-referee Peter Kirabo, however, is that they ignored a ‘clear foul’ on Ben Komakech with less than 10 seconds left in overtime, which would have given Power the chance to win the game or at least force double-overtime.
Sadly, all this has overshadowed what was a genuinely-gripping contest.