Controversial Calls and Twin Defeats:

Indeed, last week was a thrill ride of monumental proportions.

Our beloved home teams, Yanga and Simba, bravely took on Mamelodi and Al Ahly in two heart-clenching quarter-final clashes of the CAF Champions League.

The battlegrounds? None other than the mighty Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, South Africa, a behemoth of a ground that holds over 50,000 screaming fans.

The other was Cairo International Stadium, formerly known as Nasser Stadium. It is an Olympic-standard, multi-use stadium with a 75,000-seated capacity.

The two historic venues that have hosted many adrenaline-fueled international matches, including the FIFA World Cup, witnessed a night of highs and lows, jubilation and heartbreak.

Our two much-anticipated matches had all the ingredients of an epic sports movie.

You could feel the tension thicken as each moment passed, the expectancy of triumph or the dreaded possibility of defeat looming with every tick of the clock.

As I sat quivering at the edge of my seat (which, I confess, was no royal arena but a cushion at home), I couldn’t help but imagine the plethora of endings that could unfurl on that green, buzzing battlefield.

Let’s face it, folks… In the unpredictable theatre of soccer, we often find ourselves juggling bizarre, frequently contradictory emotions: euphoria, nail-biting fear, pared with inexplicable love for the game.

We have tasted the sweet nectar of victory only to have the bitter berries of defeat thrust upon us in the next moment… it’s all part of the game.

On the eve of the games, I had envisioned three tantalising scenarios. Scenario One: The ‘Twin Triumph,’ where Yanga and Simba roar to victory.

Scenario Two: The ‘Double Dismay,’ where our teams grapple with loss.

Scenario Three: The ever-confusing ‘Mixed Bag,’ where our hearts are torn between a win and a loss.

I also insisted that no matter the outcome, these matches promised to showcase Tanzanian football at its peak, a veritable tour de force.

We all crossed our fingers, clutched our lucky charms, and kept our spirits soaring high for the much-awaited spectacle to unravel.

But alas, my dear readers, life, much like sports, often throws us intriguing curveballs.

Spoiler alert: We were served a big slice of Scenario Two: ‘Agony of Defeat.’

Our brave warriors, Yanga and Simba, could not pass their opponents’ daunting test, so their banners of victory were left unfurled, much to the disappointment of all the loyal fans back home.

Let us rewind the game tape for a bit.  Both teams had their teeth bared, but the elusive goals seemed to be playing hide-and-seek.

Fast-forward to the most dreaded moment in football. Simba had already conceded 0-3 goals in aggregate, so there was not much to do but feel the agony.

Yanga, in the meantime, held the not-too-fancy Mamelodi to a 0-0 truce, again resulting in a penalty shootout.

The Sundown’s goalkeeper, Ronwen Williams, emerged as the sharp-shooting hero of the day, blocking shots like a desert cactus catching water.

But then, folks, the ride started to get bumpier! Controversy crashed the party!

Yanga players began squabbling over the referee’s calls like kids fighting over the last slice of pizza.

Our hearts pounded as the clock seemed to be running at tortoise speed.

Then, suddenly, an audacious offensive play appeared to strike gold. As if by some divine intervention, the ball seemed to cross the line.

Ta-daa!

But magic tricks only happen when the magician says so, right? Fate – or the match officials – decided to yank our chains a little.

The pivotal decision rested on Mauritanian referee Dahana Beida, who ruled that the ball had NOT sashayed past the goal line!

It was offensively odd, especially since Beida looked like he hadn’t even seen the ball himself!

Instead, it was like he was hearing voices coming from his earpiece, relaying the decision from the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).

In the aftermath, Beida became more notorious in Tanzania than a mischievous cat in a glass shop, blamed for denying Yanga what seemed to every football fan, a glaringly obvious goal.

Ah, well! These extreme moments of suspense, heated debates, and bubbling passions contribute to concocting the delicious stew we all love to call football, don’t they?

Just like that curry you crave, it can be challenging to digest. In the case of Beida, he may have been chewing on it for quite some time.

Meanwhile, the Sundowns victoriously advance to the CAF Champions League semi-final, their victory tasting slightly bitter with that unlikely dash of controversy and maybe even some guilt sprinkled in for extra flavour.

We can only sit back, pop open a bag of fish and chips, and see what the following round offers.

This twist to the fish and chips saga I mentioned in the previous piece brings our whistleblower club into the limelight.

Remember when I said our beloved referees consistently serve spicy debates, with their decisions being diced, toasted, and tossed around like sensational tabloid scandals?

And that day’s dish was Mauritania’s finest, Referee Dahana Beida.

Imagine Beida and the so-called “infallible” Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system stuck in the hot seat amidst a steaming cauldron of accusations and finger-pointing.

Grilled for doing what? You might ask — disallowing a goal scored by Azizi KI in the game’s 60th minute. Cue a collective facepalm from fans nationwide!

Television replays tell a compelling tale, clearly showing the ball surpassing the goal line after a meet-and-greet with the crossbar.

“The ball crossed the line! Another VAR blooper!” bemoaned one thoroughly cheesed-off fan on social media.

Already burdened with post-match guilt, Beida must wonder if his football refereeing career will forever be marred by his “penalty shootout” with the VAR system.

As we collectively hold our breath and wait for the fallout, the question remains: is Dahana Beida in for a red card?

Let us stroll down memory lane and dig up some dirt on Beida.

Born and raised in Nouakchott, Mauritania’s bustling capital, his love for football trumped all else.

His comprehensive knowledge of the game’s rules and steadfast fairness made him a youth league referee sensation. It even landed him a gig with the Mauritanian Football Federation.

With his skills and expertise in full swing, he soon rubbed shoulders with the heavy hitters of the Africa Cup of Nations. This prestigious appointment mirrored his rise to refereeing royalty.

Can you believe this is the same man under fire for disallowing a seemingly legitimate goal during the 60th-minute showdown between Mamelodi and Yanga?

But to our chagrin, the Mauritanian referee’s bosses appear exceedingly pleased despite the hullaballoo over a controversial, disallowed Yanga goal against Mamelodi in Pretoria.

Their joy lies not in the contentious decision but in a landmark achievement.

The FIFA Referees Committee has included him in the elite list of 12 African match officials selected for the much-anticipated 2024 Olympics Football Tournaments in Paris!

“The selection underlines the wealth of refereeing talent on the African continent. We’re supremely confident in their capabilities on the global stage,” FIFA confidently stated.

The committee handpicked 89 match officials worldwide, with Africa strongly represented by 12, gloriously demonstrating Africa’s noteworthy skillset and contribution to global football.

Football fans, mark your calendars! The women’s tournament will be held in Paris on July 25, 2024, culminating in the iconic Parc des Princes gold medal clash on August 10, 2024.

Not to be left out, the men’s competition rolls off a day earlier on July 24, 2024, destined for an electrifying finale on August 9, 2024 – yes, you guessed it, right at the Parc des Princes.

Lauded for their top-class abilities, these African match officials are about to embark on a gruelling yet rewarding process of honing their skills to near perfection.

Amid rigorous preparations, FIFA technical trainers, referees, and video assistant referee (VAR) instructors will extend their unwavering support to ensure their readiness for the apex of international football.

Among the star-studded African arbitrators are our Mauritanian friend, Beida Dahane, Ismail Mahmood Ali M. from Sudan, and Karboubi Bouchra from Morocco.

Moreover, a squad of assistant referees, including Ahmed Liban Abdoulrazack from Djibouti, Chikotesha Diana from Zambia, Jermoumi Fatiha from Morocco and Noupue Elvis from Cameroon.

Others are Santos Jerson Emiliano Dos from Angola and Yiembe Stephen from Kenya, who add an extra layer of African excellence to the proceedings.

Oh, what an eccentric world of football we live in!

But remember, folks, the spirit of Tanzanian soccer is not hinged on victories alone. Heck, no!

It lies in our ability to brush off losses with a hearty giggle and prepare for the next game. Prepare for the next game, folks!

Sure, there will be speed bumps along the way. But have a little faith in our ‘never-say-die’ spirit.