Kekana calls for improved officiating after First Touch Ladies defeat

First Touch Ladies coach Mmowa Kekana has called for better officiating standards in the Hollywoodbets Super League Amplified after his side lost 1-0 to the University of Fort Hare at Tuks Stadium on Sunday.

Kekana was unhappy with several decisions during the match, particularly the free-kick awarded to Fort Hare which led to the only goal of the contest.

Fort Hare striker Kesha Hendricks converted the set-piece in the 25th minute, securing all three points for the hosts.

Speaking to SABC Sport, Kekana said more workshops were needed to help improve the quality and consistency of refereeing in the league.

“Treatment is not equal. If you saw Fort Hare dominate us in the first half, we made mistakes. We had a clear chance to convert, but when we came back, we were attacking more.

“If the player from First Touch cleared the ball, the referee called it a free kick, which it was not. How can you clear the ball from that direction to there and it’s a free kick? Each and every time it’s a foul, and the game must stop.

“They take time sitting down and give us three minutes of optional time, which cost us,” said Kekana.

The First Touch Ladies coach said he addressed his concerns with the fourth official during the interval, asking for greater consistency in the second half.

“I cannot go and talk to the referee. I spoke to the fourth official to say, ‘Look, man, try to improve this; this thing is costing us.’”

Kekana believes the decisions made during the match affected his team’s chances of getting a result, particularly after First Touch Ladies improved following the break.

The Limpopo side are currently in the dropzone, occupying seventh place on the log with nine points from eight matches in the Super Rise Division.

Their latest defeat has added to the pressure on the team, but Kekana said his frustration with the standard of officiating had reached the point where he was no longer focused on securing the club’s league status.