Following a contentious 0-0 draw against Polokwane City on Saturday evening, Mamelodi Sundowns’ head coach, Rulani Mokwena, expressed his frustration with the refereeing decisions, suggesting that local football in South Africa is in peril.
The pivotal moment occurred when the referee invalidated a goal from Peter Shalulile in the dying moments of the match, a decision that, according to Mokwena, could have secured victory for his team.
Instead, it contributed to a draw, leaving the coach visibly disappointed and questioning the state of South African football.
In a measured post-match interview, Mokwena carefully chose his words to avoid potential sanctions, stating, “Today’s match has no silver lining.
There is no silver lining; South African football is in great difficulty, even in danger. We’re in trouble, in trouble, in trouble.”
Despite the setback, Mokwena acknowledged the quality of play presented by Polokwane City, currently positioned eighth in the DStv Premiership standings.
The coach extended congratulations to the newly promoted team for securing a point in the challenging encounter.
“I can’t ask my players to do more than that. It’s difficult because you are playing against a very good Polokwane City team. So, we congratulate them on the point obtained,” Mokwena concluded.
As Sundowns maintains its leadership in the championship with 35 points collected in 13 matches, Polokwane City holds the ninth spot in the standings with 21 points in 16 matches.
The controversial draw highlights the ongoing challenges and controversies within South African football, prompting concerns for the sport’s future in the region.
