Poulsen Blames Referee for Defeat

The Citizen (Dar es Salaam)

Allan Goshashy

6 June 2011

Bangui — Taifa Stars head coach, Jan Poulseln has singled out poor refereeing as the major factor behind his team’s damaging 2-1 defeat to Central African Republic here on Sunday. Poulsen accused Ghanaian referee Lamtey Joseph of potentially costing his team a ticket for the Africa Cup of Nations finals after he denied the Stars a seemingly clear goal by Athuman Machupa.

Stars were pushing for the second goal in the closing stages when Machupa made it 2-1 for Stars, but the referee ruled it out, claiming the scorer had fouled his opponent before sending the ball into the back of the net.

It looked a clear goal, but Joseph rejected it and the hosts regained their lead a few minutes and held on for a win that left Taifa Stars three points adrift of group D leaders Morocco and CAR.”He was against us right from the first whistle, we could have won or forced them to a draw had it not been for his biased decisions,” Poulsen fumed shortly after the match.

The rejected goal was initiated by Mbwana Samatta, who beat two defenders and placed the ball to Sweden-based striker Machupa who, in turn, curled it into the back of the net.

“At one time, one of my strikers was fouled just outside the penalty area, but the referee ignored my players’ appeals, it’s very disappointing,” he added.Soon after the match, the referee and his assistants marched off the pitch under a tight security.

Poulsen refused to blame his players for the defeat, saying they played their hearts out in the game.

The coach said he was forced to rest strikers John Boko and Mwinyi Kazimoto in favour of TP Mazembe’s new signing Samatta and Athumani Machupa in order to enliven the team’s striking force.

The changes had a massive impact on Stars’ game as they started to command the proceedings, but they failed to convert their chances into goals.The Danish tactician admitted that the defeat put his team in a precarious position, but remained optimistic that they can still make it into the finals.

Third-placed Stars tie on four points with Algeria who crashed to a painful 4-0 defeat to Morocco in another Sunday’s Group D match.For his part, the Central Africans’ coach, Jules Accorsi, praised his players for the victory, saying they played in accordance with his instructions.Taifa Stars are expected to return home tonight.

AllAfrica – All the Time