Referee Induced Defeat Denies Zebras
Mqondisi Dube | Monday June 27, 2016 14:02
Zebras coach, Peter Butler and his captain, Joel Mogorosi were left seething after what they felt was robbery in the Namibian capital, Windhoek as the curtain fell on an eventful tournament.
Mogorosi was adjudged to have handled the ball three minutes before time and Orlando Pirates midfielder, Gift Motupa gleefully accepted the challenge and stroked home the winner from the spot.
“Proud of you boys, they did it all others, we can’t change them they say cheating is part of the game but today it was something...I can only tell you today the ball didn’t touch my arm at all it smashed my face, very far from a penalty (sic),” Mogorosi reacted on his Facebook page after the morale sapping defeat.
Butler was critical of the match officials.
“The referee and his assistants were despicable and shameful. They should be banned from refereeing. What does that say for our young players coming through. We are trying to develop the game in Africa, a place I love but this is so sad,” Butler told Monitor Sport yesterday.
The Zebras opened the scoring in stunning fashion when on-form Onkabetse Mankgantai floated beautifully over napping South African goalkeeper, Riyard Pieterse in the 16th minute.
But South Africa hit back after 32 minutes when then captain, Boitumelo Mafoko was adjudged to have committed a foul in the box and Zambian referee offered Bafana the first of the two penalties. Motupa converted, leaving goalkeeper, Mwampule Masule rooted. Mafoko received a yellow card for the offence.
The teams were deadlocked 1-1 at half-time and Butler introduced Kabelo Seakanyeng for Lesego Galenamotlhale and Mogorosi replaced Thabang Sesinyi as the coach sought impetus.
But it was South Africa who took a dubious lead in the 66th minute, when substitute, Thabiso Kutumela tapped in from a seemingly offside position after being set-up by Motupa.
However, the Zebras fought tenaciously with substitute Seakanyeng going agonizingly close as his rasping shot dipped just a fraction late while Galenamotlhale, before his withdrawal, thumped his effort against the woodwork.
Seakanyeng found the equaliser when he sent a high ball into the box only for Pieterse to fumble the harmless effort in the 70th minute.
But for all their efforts the Zebras were left feeling cheated when the referee, who stole the limelight, awarded a controversial penalty in the 87th minute, arguing Mogorosi had handled the ball while trying to clear a cross.
A minute later, Motupa steered home the winner to complete his brace from the spot. Referee Sikazwe will be Botswana’s public enemy number one for a long time after he awarded three penalties against the Zebras in two matches and also sent Butler to the stands for protesting. He gave Namibia the penalty for the equaliser in the quarterfinal where Butler saw red.
Zebras: Masule, Gadibolae, Gaolaolwe, Kebue, Makgantai, Galenamothlale (Kabelo Seakanyeng 61’), Tshireletso, Mafoko, Sesinyi ( Mogorosi 50’), Ditsele, Ramoraka.
Bafana Bafana: Pieterse, Mobara, Coetzee, Malepe, Moerane, Mekoa, Phiri, Modiba, Masuku, Moseamedi (Kutumela 55’), Motupa