Mosimane adds fuel to the fire over match officiating

Pitso Mosimane, coach of Mamelodi Sundowns

Friday Oct 25, 2019. 13:00

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane says he is hoping for fair officiating when his side host Kaizer Chiefs in a crunch South Africa Premier League clash at Loftus Versfeld on Sunday.

Sundowns can leapfrog Chiefs at the top of the table with a victory, but Mosimane is concerned about the rub of the green that the AmaKhosi have got from match officials this season.

He is hopeful it will not be the same on Sunday, as he says the match officials have warmed to a Chiefs side that seemingly back in form after a difficult few seasons.

“They are currently on good form and they are benefiting‚” Mosimane told reporters.

“They are enjoying the ride at the moment‚ we just have to do what we have to do and we pray that the contributors [match officials] don’t help them to benefit.

“We pray for the officials that are coming not to make mistakes they have been making‚ they must book people when they are supposed to book people.

“Benni [McCarthy] was crying‚ I am busy crying‚ AmaZulu was complaining‚ Steve Komphela was complaining and even Owen Da Gama is complaining.

“Who doesn’t complain‚ they [Chiefs] are having a jolly ride on top of the log. Sometimes I get a foul and sometimes I don’t get it but they get the ones that decide games.”

Mosimane’s utterances are no doubt tactical to put Sunday’s referee under the spotlight, and he say everybody will be watching them closely.

“Referees are under pressure because we are watching them and we are talking‚” he said.

“We will complain and I can never keep quiet because we must say it like it is. Benni is saying it‚ I am saying it‚ but there are coaches who don’t want to say it because they are modest.

“We want to win the championship and what is this‚ it is a championship game‚ so we will talk.

“Even [Liverpool manager] Jurgen Klopp was complaining after their game against Man United‚ so when Klopp complains it is okay and when I am complaining people saying things.

“Why should we not talk about it? This is a championship battle and everyone wants to win it. Klopp talks and I will continue to talk.”