Bribery allegations still under scrutiny

TFF`s information officer, Florian Kaijage.

Tanzania Football Federation, TFF, is still probing on allegations of a bribery scandal that has been levelled on four premiership referees who officiated a Mainland league match between Majimaji and Mtibwa Sugar played in Songea on September 9.

TFF’s information officer Florian Kaijage said the special committee composed of members from the competition and referees’ committees held a joint session on Sunday.

The referees, namely Osman Kazi, Omari Miyala and Omari Mfaume all from Dar es Salaam and Ruvuma-based Kamwanga Tambwe, were summoned before the special committee on Sunday to hear their version of defence.

The committee thoroughly discussed the allegations and came to the onclusion of extending further interrogations to other people (not mentioned) to seek clarifications in connection with the allegations.

The TFF special committee is scheduled to hold a meeting in Dar es Salaam tomorrow when the interrogations would continue before drawing conclusion.

Kaijage never mentioned the names of those who would assist in the interrogations but promised to provide detailed explanations to the public through the press on the outcome of the scam.

He said TFF is determined to improve the quality of the premiership through fairness resulting from unbiased officiating.

The match fixing allegations were raised within the TFF system as neither Mtibwa Sugar nor Majimaji who played the match complained of unbiased officiating.

Mtibwa Sugar lost their fourth round match at the hands of the newly promoted Majimaji by a lone goal to halt their three-match unbeaten run since the league kicked off on August 23.

This is the first case of bribery allegations to be raised by the soccer federation that never involved the competing teams in the Mainland premiership.

The above named referees have been suspended from officiating until the conclusion is reached on the allegations.

Some of the Mainland soccer teams featuring in the league have raised concern on the poor quality of the services rendered by the referees, highlighting favouritism, especially when they play against well to do teams.

Some controversial referees have been allegedly extending additional time to provide opportunities for some of the teams to chance and pull last-gasp equalizers, or notch victories.

Premiership underdogs have in most cases been affected by the unscrupulous character of some of the referees to tarnish the image of the football federation.