Kaizer Chiefs goal against Siwelele FC correctly awarded, says former PSL referee

Former PSL referee Victor Hlungwani says Kaizer Chiefs’ opening goal in their 3-2 win over Siwelele FC was correctly allowed to stand, despite the visiting side’s protests over an alleged foul.

Mfundo Vilakazi put Amakhosi in front in the 30th minute, but Siwelele’s players immediately questioned the decision after Wandile Duba challenged Thabiso Sesane in the build-up.

The incident took place close to the goal, with Siwelele players believing Duba had fouled Sesane as the two competed for the ball. However, Hlungwani said the contact was a fair shoulder-to-shoulder challenge and that there was no infringement to justify disallowing Vilakazi’s goal.

The former PSL official also rejected the suggestion that Duba had pushed or charged into Sesane. In his view, both players were legitimately attempting to reach the ball, and the outcome of the contest depended on which player was able to maintain his balance and strength.

“Vilakazi scored the goal. You can see Vilakazi he’s chipping the ball nicely, but Sesane and Duba goes to challenge for the ball,” Hlungwani said on Soccerzone.

“So, when they challenge one another, we need to check was there a push. We don’t see a push.

“Was there charging an opponent? We don’t see charging an opponent

“We see players challenging for the ball. When players challenge for the ball, it depends who has power.

“Shoulder to shoulder challenge, so when they go to the net someone has to lose power there.

“Correct decision by the referee to award the goal.”

Hlungwani’s assessment supports the decision made on the field, with the former referee concluding that the contact between Sesane and Duba fell within the laws of the game.

The goal gave Kaizer Chiefs the lead before the match developed into a closely contested encounter. Amakhosi eventually held on for a narrow 3-2 victory over Siwelele FC, making Vilakazi’s early strike a decisive moment in the result.

The controversy centred solely on whether the challenge before the finish should have resulted in a foul. Hlungwani maintained that there was no push, no charge and no offence that required the referee to intervene.

The discussion follows debate over the decision after the match, with Siwelele’s players unhappy that the goal was awarded. Hlungwani, however, said the referee had made the correct call after assessing the nature of the challenge.

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