Players speak with referee Thando Ntsanzeka during the DStv Premiership match between Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, South Africa on February 17, 2024.
(Photo by Lee Warren/Gallo Images)
- Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates ended in a 1-1 draw after 28 fouls and seven yellow cards, controversial refereeing and a heated exchange.
- Sundowns manager Rulani Mokwena expressed dissatisfaction with the quality of the match and criticized the referee for losing control.
- Sundowns face challenges due to postponement of DStv Premiership restart and absence of key players injured during Bafana Bafana's Afcon campaign
- For more sports news, visit here news 24 sports cover.
The intense clash between Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates in the DStv Premiership ended in a 1-1 draw at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
The match was full of excitement and drama, with 28 fouls, 7 yellow cards, 1 red card and numerous stoppages due to heated exchanges.
However, Masandawana head coach Rulani Mokwena was not impressed with the way referee Thando Nzanzeka handled the match.
“I don't like 90 minutes. I think you need three good teams in a football match. I think today there were three below average teams. Of course, one of them was me.” 37- said. He was a year old, alluding to Nzanzeka and his assistant officiating.
“As a coach, when the team is not doing well, of course I have to be the first to take responsibility and in my opinion it wasn't a good game of football.
“There were too many off-the-ball incidents, too many elbow strikes…and I don't think the referees were in control of the game either. I don't talk about referees, so at least I I'm talking about the referees. It was good, but it wasn't my favorite football game.”
Before Saturday's match, 10 Sundowns players were on duty in Ivory Coast following the Premier Soccer League's decision to postpone the resumption of the DStv Premiership as Bafana Bafana returned home from the African Cup of Nations. Only a few players showed up for practice on Thursday. .
Of those, only Ronwen Williams and Tapelo Morena started and were included in the matchday squad. Some players were sidelined due to injuries sustained while on international duty in Ivory Coast.
The absence of Chryso Mdau, Grant Kekana, Mosobi Mbala, Aubrey Modiba, Teboho Mokoena, Thapelo Maseko and Themba Zwane was keenly felt in Mokwena's set-up.
Their absence was evident in the team's disjointed performance against Pirates, although they showed glimpses of their quality against the formidable Pirates.
But Mokwena doesn't want to make excuses for the disappointing result.
“That's not an excuse to say if you rotate (players) you lose points and then you don't play well. Big football clubs don't have time for that.
“The reason I'm still at Sundowns is because we keep winning. We're in our fourth season now and we've won three league titles in a row. We've won the Nedbank Cup, we've won the MTN8, we've won the league. “I played in the AFL (African Football League) for three years.
“We have to keep winning, we have to keep winning. That's the job of a coach at a big club, otherwise you'll get sent off. With a performance like today, it doesn't matter who's playing. , we have to do better and as players' coaches, we have to work harder. ”
The Brazilians return to action at the Dobsonville Stadium on Tuesday night, kicking off their Nedbank Cup campaign against MM Platinum in the Round of 32.
Kickoff is at 7pm.
