Kaze sent off after fourth-official dispute in Sekhukhune United defeat

Cedric Kaze was sent off late in Sekhukhune United’s defeat by Orlando Pirates after fourth official Akhona Makalima recommended that the coach be dismissed.

The Sekhukhune United head coach had been involved in a series of exchanges with Makalima during the match at Orlando Amstel Arena, with tensions rising during a prolonged delay to the substitutions.

The incident occurred shortly before the visitors made two changes, while Orlando Pirates made three. Several minutes were spent dealing with the substitution boards as Makalima worked to display the correct player numbers.

Kaze appeared increasingly frustrated by the delay, with fewer than 20 minutes remaining and his team seeking to change the course of the match.

Referee Philangenkosi Khumalo then showed the Burundian coach a red card on Makalima’s recommendation. Kaze took some time to leave the technical area, continuing to protest as he was sent off, before he was escorted to a seat in the stands directly behind the Sekhukhune United bench.

Paulus Masehe, Sekhukhune United’s assistant coach, said the dismissal followed a misunderstanding between the fourth official and the referee.

“As to what happened on the bench for our coach to get a red card, it was just a moment of misunderstanding between the fourth official and the referee.

“The honest question that our coach asked was, ‘Why are you taking so long?’

“But from whatsoever frustration from the fourth official, she ended up telling the referee that the coach is using uncalled-for language,” explains Masehe.

Sekhukhune United had arrived at the famous Soweto venue with a tactical approach designed to frustrate Orlando Pirates and create opportunities on the counter-attack. However, they left empty-handed after Boitumelo Radiopane and Oswin Appollis scored in the two halves.

Masehe said the visitors had intended to slow the contest down, draw Orlando Pirates into becoming desperate and then find space around them.

“Playing against Orlando Pirates doesn’t change as they won’t change how they play because they don’t adapt to anyone,” points out Masehe.

He identified a lack of composure and accuracy in the final third as the main weakness in Sekhukhune United’s performance.

“For us, the missing puzzle in how we play is in being clinical in the final third.

“…there is a certain game model that the coach has introduced that is new,” he says.

The result leaves Sekhukhune United needing to recover quickly, with Babina Noko returning to Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday for the second leg of their MTN8 semi-final.

They trail 1-0 from the first leg.