DSTV Premier League: Bad Officiating Is Killing Us

Alex Owoiocho is the head coach of Chariots Club of Lagos who are currently campaigning in the DSTV Premier League. In this interview, Owoiocho speaks about their target for the season, their challenges and why they are yet to make an appreciable impact in the domestic league

Your team lost four out of the five matches they have played this season. What’s responsible for their dismal performance?

It is very unfortunate that we lost four out of the five matches we have played this season. The defeats were caused by the inexperience of my players. Most of my players are rookies who are still learning the ropes of the game. But I can assure you that they are learning on the job.

Would you say your team’s target for the season is still achievable considering your present position on the Atlantic conference league table?

The target we set for ourselves right from the beginning of the season is to avoid the drop zone. Right now we are in the fourth position, and that is within our target. If not for bad officiating, we wouldn’t have lost as many as four games now. Nevertheless, I am not disappointed with the performance of my players so far in this season.

Are you saying that referees’ decisions have also affected your team’s performance in the league?

Absolutely, but you need to know that I am not only concerned about my team, but also how officiating have affected other teams too. I am disappointed with the way they make wrong calls in so many matches this season. Not only in matches involving my team but in other matches too.

They are killing the game and killing us with their wrong calls. They ruin team’s hardwork when they make decisions that wrongfully affect the outcome of matches.

How would you rate the level of competition in the league this season?

I think the level of competition among all the teams this season has improved. One thing we’ve come to realise is that there is no wide gap among all the teams. The level of competition among the teams has improved tremendously, unlike in the past when one can easily tip two teams that would qualify for the final, right from the start of the season.

The results of the matches played so far, especially in the Atlantic, can attest to that.

Another positive aspect of the league is that more quality players are being discovered and more compensation packages are being given to the players. This has encouraged more players from neighbouring countries to come and play in our league, which is a good development for the country’s basketball.

What is your advice to the organisers of the league?

I think they (league board) need to periodically check the performance of all the referees in the league. This will go a long way in curbing their excesses and put them on their toes.

Apart from bad officiating, another thing that is affecting most of the teams in the Premier League is how matches are scheduled.

The league board needs to stop scheduling matches on week days because it is really tough for us to honour such matches. They also need to stop rescheduling matches without prior notice to teams involved. When we have a few days to prepare for a match, it will definitely affect our players’ performance on match day.