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    Okumu furious over PVL officiating: ‘Why is there a double standard?

    Okumu slams PVL officiating: ‘Can they not see the things that even the crowd can see?’
    Sep 16, 2019
    PHOTO: Dante Peralta

    COACH Godfrey Okumu criticized PVL officiating, displeased with what he sees as referees’ ‘double standard.’

    Motolite rallied to score a five-set win over Choco Mucho and stayed within striking distance of the Open Conference leaders on Sunday. But The Kenyan coach was frustrated over several crucial points that were not awarded to Motolite, resulting in a nailbiter against the lowly Flying Titans.

    Isa Molde and Tots Carlos came up huge to help Motolite pull off the victory but Okumu said it shouldn’t have been that tight in the endgame.

    “I just think and believe that the team will always fight. But as a coach, I have to complain things, the calls that had not been called,” the Kenyan coach said.

    Okumu pointed out a handful of non-calls in the fifth set, particularly what he believed was an illegal reach over the net by Arianne Angustia that saved Choco Mucho and tied the match at 14 in the fifth set.

    “There are five balls that I can pinpoint. First, that overreach. Two balls hit the floor, the setter was there but the ball hit the floor. Check ball (on Carlos’ attack). Setter double dribbling. They don't call one,” Okumu said.

    “How bad can they be? Or how bad can they not see the things that even the crowd can see. Even the opponents when the ball goes, they start to walk away like, 'oh, it's on the ground,’” he added.

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      Okumu was given the yellow card in the third set for continuous complaining and he said it was unfair, pointing out that Choco Mucho coach Oliver Almadro was also contesting some calls.

      “They keep on telling me to stay out, stay out. But when the guy goes in, no one talks to him. So, the question is at some point, the referees should start having that balance, I'm just sorry to say this,” said the Motolite coach.

      “So you’re left to wonder, why is there a double standard? I’m sorry to say this. Am I too tall that everyone sees me when I'm making the noise?”

      It was the second yellow card in the PVL for Okumu from Herbert Matimatiko, who was the second referee when the Kenyan was slapped with a yellow card last September 1 during Motolite’s win over Pacifictown-Army.

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      “The same guy was the second referee, it cannot end here, when I got a yellow card the other time. Yet again, I got a yellow card,” he said. “Wow. It's unbelievable. Sometimes, we talk of strengths of volleyball but this is, anyway, that's all.”

      Okumu is also frustrated over the referees’ reaction to team captain Iris Tolenada, who was handed a yellow card as she sought clarification after Angustia’s dink that led to two more deuces.

      “They don't listen to my captain. You send the captain but they sent them back. So, sometimes self control is good but sometimes, it's just too much.”

      “If it's good officiating, it's good. We give them credit. But if it's bad, it's bad like today. But I cannot blame them,” he said. “I believe they have a room for improvement. They will discuss it, they have to talk about it.”

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      PHOTO: Dante Peralta
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