PAYNESVILLE CITY — Watanga FC head coach Theophilus Geekor has described a penalty decision awarded against his side as “very cheap” following his team’s 1-1 draw against FC Fassell on Sunday, after a frantic finish to a match that had remained goalless until the 86th minute.
By Jaheim T. Tumu — [email protected]
The encounter appeared destined for a stalemate before Ndene Cissé converted an 86th-minute penalty to give the Soccer Missionaries the lead.
However, Alexander Curtis struck just a minute later in the 87th minute to restore parity, denying Fassell all three points and saving Watanga from another setback in their winless start to the campaign.
Despite the quick comeback, Geekor was left furious with the officiating, strongly questioning the referee’s judgment on the penalty call.
“It was a cheap penalty. Very cheap,” Geekor said during his post-match press conference.
“You allow the player to move on, he hits the ball, he goes to the floor, and suddenly, you say it’s a foul.”
The Watanga gaffer also drew comparisons to a mid-week fixture against FC Bea Mountain, claiming his side was penalized under similar controversial circumstances.
“I’m not happy with what the referee did in terms of officiating today,” Geekor added, though he insisted he did not want to dwell entirely on the call.
The penalty controversy highlights a frustrating start for the defending champions, who remain winless after three matches (two draws, one loss).
Despite the sluggish start, Geekor expressed firm confidence that his side will turn their season around and defend their crown.
“We will find our broken pieces, we will mend them, and we will come back into the league as the strongest team,” he assured. “I can guarantee you, this league is not going to be won until the last day.”
Geekor also disclosed that a mini-injury crisis forced him into tactical adjustments, including dropping a natural midfielder into the backline. He praised his squad for stepping up under pressure.
“I always say to my team: you don’t break down; you don’t crumble under pressure. You have to keep going,” Geekor said.
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