Head coach of Accra Great Olympics, Prince George Koffie has blamed the team’s loss to WAFA on the performance of referee Abdul Hamid Sesay.
Olympics who were chasing their third win in the league fell to a 24th minute strike from Eric Asamany and held on to the end but the coach, Koffie said it was not a true reflection of the game.
Speaking at the post game presser, the former Al Ethihad Sports Academy of India Head Coach went against his principle of criticising referees to lay blame on the referee’s poor decisions which he stated cannot go without criticism.
“I don’t normally complain about refereeing, but the referee’s performance today was abysmal to say the least.”
According to him, the Wa based referee’s display on the afternoon left his boys very frustrated on the pitch, wondering if it was a deliberate attempt to deprive his side of the breakthrough.
“His calls right from the start were questionable; there were fouls committed against us that went unpunished and he overlooked two rightful penalty appeals which could have changed the complexion of the game.”
He said it was unfortunate to play well in-front of an expectant home crowd and not come out with the result, adding that “to be honest the referee contributed to our defeat.”
Aside the poor refereeing decisions, Koffie said the team was challenged with the absence of his regular central defenders, Mathew Ofori Dunga and Jamaldeen Haruna who missed out due to injuries.
Skipper Gladson Awako who was at the center of the penalty drama corroborated his coach’s claims, adding that the referee should have at least awarded a penalty to Olympics.
“I feel the referee one way or the other was not getting his decisions right, although he is human and can make mistakes. The penalty appeals were so clear he should have awarded them.”
Olympics, who were hoping to build upon their previous performances which had seen them pick seven points from their last three games, beat Karela United 2-0, drew with Elmina Sharks 1-1 and beat Inter Allies 1-0, will now turn their attention to King Faisal tomorrow at the Baba Yara Stadium.
BY RAYMOND ACKUMEY
