If you ask outgoing Kaizer Chiefs coach Ted Dumitru — and a good many South Africans — about the consequences of a North African being appointed to referee the crucial World Cup qualifying game between Bafana Bafana and Ghana next Saturday, the reply would probably suggest it is further evidence of a dastardly conspiracy against South Africa.
Dumitru has not minced his words in the past about his dislike of North African referees and what he sees as CAF’s undisguised prejudice against anything South African. The announcement on Wednesday that Moroccan Mohamed Guezzaz will be in charge of the key World Cup qualifying game at the FNB Stadium next Saturday is unlikely to change his views.
The fact that Guezzaz is a Moroccan has also not escaped the attention of soccer fanatics with an ultra-suspicious nature, and it will surely be suggested that after South Africa pipped Morocco in the race to stage the 2010 World Cup, it is a deliberate plot to prevent South Africa qualifying for the 2006 World Cup tournament.
Bafana coach Stuart Baxter, however, is a good deal more pragmatic and said it serves little purpose ”crying wolf” before the event at hand has taken place.
”I have nothing against Moroccan referees per se,” said the Bafana coach, ”and I’ll judge this one after I see how he performs in the Ghana game.”
He added: ”In any case, I believe it is Fifa and not CAF who make the final decision in regard to referees for the African World Cup qualifying matches.”
Aiding Guezzaz in the Bafana-Black Stars showdown will be assistant referees Jean Marie Endeng Zogo (Cameroon) and Ibrahim Djezzar (Algeria), with the South African Football Association’s announcement of match officials on Wednesday naming Abdellah el Achiri of Morocco as the fourth official and Justino Jose Fernandes of Angola as the match commissioner.
”It’s a fair enough mix, considering a Southern African country is pitted against a West African nation,” said Baxter, ”but I guess we shall just have to wait and see.” — Sapa