By Ibrahim Karim Bangura (Tanko)
One of the Premier League clubs Luawa FC, in the ongoing Leone Rock Premier League 2023/24 season, Head Coach Sebastian Bowels, has launched a scathing critique of the refereeing standards in the Leone Rock Premier League.
His remarks followed their recent match against Kholifa Stars.
His frustrations stemmed from Luawa FC’s crushing 4-0 defeat by Kholifa Stars during the ongoing LRPL season.
Bowels stated his displeasure, stating, “The refereeing was poor in our match against Kholifa Stars, and it’s been a recurring issue throughout the league. I’ve been highlighting this for quite some time. The referees in this league need to elevate their standards.”
“Otherwise, the progress of this league will stagnate. It’s becoming a joke league.”
He, however; emphasized the crucial role of refereeing standards in the league’s success.
He noted that, “No matter how pristine the pitch may be, if the refereeing standards are subpar, it will undermine the integrity of the matches.”
He added these individuals shouldn’t even be officiating Division 2 matches; they belong in community leagues, not in Premier League fixtures.
Bowels also pointed out the absence of Sierra Leonean referees in Confederation of African Football (CAF) competitions.
He attributed it to the insufficient investment in referee-coaching and education.
Meanwhile, he urged for momentous improvements in this aspect to raise the refereeing standards within the league.
Moreover, reflecting on Luawa FC’s recent performance, the team’s statistics over their last six matches paint a challenging picture.
They’ve got three losses and three draws.