SOME Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) coaches say they have been gagged by authorities and cannot express themselves freely.
This comes after their colleagues were summoned to appear before the PSL disciplinary committee, for allegedly bringing the game of football into disrepute after blaming match officials for some decisions they had made.
After Sunday’s 2-0 loss to Highlanders, Caps United coach Lloyd Chitembwe chronicled the challenges that he faces in post-match Press conferences.
He said without freedom of expression, it was pointless to talk about the game.
Chitembwe already sits on a disciplinary case in which he attacked the match officials in a post-match interview. His side have also been summoned following the abandonment of their game against FC Platinum.
Caps United were denied a Ralph Kawondera equaliser as the striker was ruled offside with the hosts leading 1-0.
On Sunday, Chitembwe said it was a good match against Highlanders but would not give more details on the match.
“It’s pointless for me to talk about the game. I feel that at the end of the day, one has to have the freedom of expression; just to express myself and if that is taken away, it’s difficult to express myself. So I am not going to say much but just to say it was a good game of football. I thought Highlanders did well in the first half and we did well in the second half,” he said.
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Pressed to say what he exactly meant, Chitembwe said: “In this job, there is so much unnecessary scrutiny and I thought, especially in recent times, unlike yesteryears when a coach used to freely express themselves, and delve much into the details of the game. But it is no longer the case. Someone somewhere critically analyses what I would have said and you never know, I don’t want to trample on other people’s feet. It's unfortunate, some information you withhold because at the end of the day, you don’t know who is watching, you don’t know who is listening, you don’t know how other people are going to interpret it.”
Chicken Inn players walked out of their match against Yadah on Saturday, protesting a penalty awarded to the Miracle Boys.
However the match resumed and the Gamecocks lost 2-0.
Assistant coach Fungai “Tostao” Kwashi also said coaches should be allowed to express themselves.
“I am not even angry because I was expecting this. I wish for the sake of Zimbabwean football, let the coaches speak the truth. When they speak the truth don’t fine them because if you fine someone for saying the truth, we will not eradicate some of the things that are happening. Give coaches the freedom to say things as they are. In Europe, coaches say the truth without getting fined, but nowadays in Zimbabwean football if you say the truth, you get fined but everyone can see what is happening in broad daylight. I am supposed to be angry and sad but I am not happy because I saw a good second-half performance from Chicken Inn. I saw the guys fighting 10 versus 11, pinning Yadah. We could have got a 3-2 win here despite what was happening. Our backs were against the wall from the first minute we walked into these premises. I am trying as much as possible not to say things that will get me fined but I have got a lot of things to say,” Kwashi said.
Chicken Inn head coach Joey Antipas has a pending case in which he attacked referees after Chicken Inn’s lost to Manica Diamonds in Mutare.
Coaches have been asked to use proper channels to express their grievances over match officials.
Another game featuring Chegutu Pirates and Dynamos at Baobab Stadium was abandoned last week after the former protested a goal that was awarded to the latter, claiming the ball did not cross the line.
The two clubs have been requested to submit their reports on that game by the PSL.
