In the week leading to the Uganda Cup finals, reports that referee Robert Donney was chosen to handle arguably the biggest game of the season were treated like jokes by many.
What started as jokes ended up being a reality when on Saturday June 6, 2015 at Kyamate Grounds, Ntungamo district in Western Uganda, Donney appeared as the match centre referee.
Was this a decision reached after by the FUFA referees’ appointing authority 30 minutes to kick off or days before when rumours of him in the middle started circulating?
This question can only be answered by FUFA and perhaps Donney himself since in the pre-match meeting, FIFA referee Brian Miiro Nsubuga was the one introduced to both teams.
“It was surprising that at kick off, Donney was the man in the centre,” said KCC FC Chairman Julius Kabugo. “In the pre-match meeting, another referee was introduced and not him. How and why this changed, we have no answers,” he added.
For your information, on Thursday, KCC FC fans had vowed to ensure the match didn’t kick off Donney was the man in centre but why did they agree on match day.
“Like I said, we were surprised since even in the pre-match meeting on the day, he wasn’t among the officials. But since after all our protests publicly, at kick off with him in charge, we had nothing to do and kept discipline.”
According to one FUFA official who preferred anonymity, even FUFA president Moses Magogo was caught off he guard.
“For sure, he also had a different opinion but he doesn’t make decisions for the referees’ appointments committee. In fact his opinion was Brian Nsubuga and was surprised to see Donney in charge,” the FUFA official told Kawowo Sports.
Was everything planned or it just happened?
According to one member of the FUFA referees committee who preferred not to be named for obvious political reasons, their choice for the game was not Donney but they were overruled and a decision had to be made.
“We agreed on another referee (Brian Nsubuga) but we were over ruled,” he said. “We had no choice but to give in and it’s a shame,” he added.
Reports had earlier indicated that the said official was ready to resign and though he was at the pre-match meeting, when their decision was allegedly overruled, he opted not to even watch the game.
Apparently, he is yet to resign from the committee.
Who is to blame for Donney’s appointment?
In real sense, it’s the work of the FUFA referees committee to name officials for particular fixtures but in this case, some say their powers were hijacked by the top officials on the executive.
True or not, this is a committee that has been a disappointment this campaign. For starters, the man in question – Donney has been involved in most fixtures in the season than any other centre referee.
Secondly, towards the end of the campaign, he was in charge of four out of five consecutive fixtures for relegated Kira Young.
To me, this is abnormal but Joseph Mwanje, a member on the referees’ committee told how it’s normal though he said that Donney is the one that is always available.
“Some referees especially senior ones don’t accept appointments always but he is willing and available.”
Why Donney wasn’t the right choice for the Cup final?
For people who regularly watch local football, the man needs no introduction. Calling him controversial would be praising him. The man is just poor.
During the first round Uganda Premier League clash between Vipers and SC Villa in Buikwe, either side left complaining with Vipers’ coach Edward Golola stating; “In the first half, I thought he was against us, in the second half, I think he was for us.”
That’s how poor and not controversial this FUFA delegate from Kasese has been.
He was also in the centre in the quarter finals between SC Victoria University and SC Villa awarding the latter an extra time penalty outside the area.
In protest, SCVU coach Morley Byekwaso left the bench for most parts of the extra time.
“I couldn’t handle the situation and I didn’t want my anger to boil beyond control. I know I didn’t act professionally but that’s the best I could since staying on the bench would have led me to break the rules. He was like a man on mission,” said Byekwaso.
In the semi-finals of the FUFA Big League between Masaka LC and JMC, he awarded the latter a penalty which was missed as the woodwork saved the latter, however, he allowed the same player who had taken the penalty to pounce on the rebound yet the rules don’t allow it. Any other player but not one who has taken a penalty is allowed to do so.
When privately asked why he did allow play to continue, his reply was – “I saw the goalkeeper saving not the post.”
At Kyamate, Donney acted like a man on a mission
During match officials warm up, Donney wasn’t in the centre but on the side. Usually, it’s the centre referee that warms up in the middle with his assistants on his right and left.
Impeccable sources indicate he had even requested Brian Nsubuga (4th official) to warm up alongside to disguise but fourth officials always don’t take part in warm ups with the three.
After kick off, he got so many calls wrong and it was clear one side was being officiated unfairly but fortunately, the first half ended amicably albeit with a number of protests.
It was at the penalty incident that his true colours were revealed. True, referees make mistakes but this wasn’t one of them but something that appeared intended.
First, he ignored his assistant’s call for offside on SC Villa’s Chrizestom Ntambi, then KCC FC’s Sakka Mpiima cleanly won the ball without making any contact on Ntambi and finally, all this happened outside the area.
If all this wasn’t premeditated, then only FUFA and Donney can explain.
It is sad that the game of such magnitude never ended but at last FUFA and its referees standing committee were exposed.
How a Grade One referee officiates such a fixture assisted by his seniors and another senior as the fourth official beats everyone’s understanding.
