NSL coaches want referees to up officiating standards after contentious decisions

Darajani Gogo assistant coach Kelly Ogutu blamed poor officiating and a costly red card for their 3-2 loss to Mombasa United on Monday.

by ANGWENYI GICHANA

Sports13 November 2025 - 07:00

In Summary

Kibera Black Stars coach Idd Badi, whose team fell 1-0 to newcomers Equity Bank, said that while teams must take responsibility for their performances, officiating must meet professional standards.
“Football has three outcomes — win, draw, or lose — and we accept the result. But we all want a level playing field. Officials need to protect the spirit of the game,” Badi remarked.

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National Super League (NSL) coaches have urged match officials to raise officiating standards following a series of controversial calls that influenced key results over the weekend.

Darajani Gogo assistant coach Kelly Ogutu led the calls for improvement after his side’s 2-1 loss to Mombasa United on Monday, blaming poor officiating and a costly red card for derailing what he believed was a well-executed game plan.

“The kind of officiating was not the best, but when you play away, it’s like that,” said Ogutu after the game at KPA Mbaraki Sports Club. “The execution was right until the dying minutes of the first half, when one of our players was sent off. Things started going wrong from there.”

Despite the setback, Ogutu backed his youthful side to bounce back when they face Mwatate United on Sunday.

“We were unlucky to miss a couple of scoring chances, but we’ll work on that. The boys played according to plan, and I believe we’ll respond strongly in our next match,” he added.

Across the league, other coaches echoed Ogutu’s sentiments, saying that fair and consistent officiating is vital for maintaining the NSL’s competitiveness and integrity.

Kibera Black Stars coach Idd Badi, whose team fell 1-0 to newcomers Equity Bank, said that while teams must take responsibility for their performances, officiating must meet professional standards.

“Football has three outcomes — win, draw, or lose — and we accept the result. But we all want a level playing field. Officials need to protect the spirit of the game,” Badi remarked.

Meanwhile, Migori Youth climbed back to the top of the table with a 1-0 victory over Gucha Stars, thanks to Syphas Owuor’s fourth goal of the season. Gucha Stars, coached by Sammy Okoth, slipped to 18th place with four points from as many games.

Migori Youth now lead with 16 points, tied with Mombasa United but ahead on goal difference. Naivas sit third with 14 points, and Kibera Black Stars are fourth with 13.

At the lower end, Kabati Youth and Kisumu All Stars remain winless after seven rounds. Kisumu All Stars lost 2-0 to 3K FC at Moi Stadium, Embu — a result their coach partly attributed to inconsistent refereeing.