Kaze red card explained after Sekhukhune United defeat by Orlando Pirates

Sekhukhune United assistant coach Paulus Masehe says Cedric Kaze was sent off during Tuesday’s 2-0 defeat by Orlando Pirates after a misunderstanding involving fourth official Akhona Makalima, rather than a deliberate confrontation with the match officials.

The incident occurred during the Betway Premiership match at the Orlando Amstel Arena and left Sekhukhune United without their head coach in the technical area for the remainder of the contest. Masehe and Papi Zothwane took charge on the touchline after Kaze was dismissed.

Kaze’s red card followed an exchange with Makalima, but Masehe said the coach had been seeking an explanation about the delay in play when the situation escalated.

“There was a moment of misunderstanding between the fourth official and the referee, the honest question that our coach was asking is ‘why are you taking so long?’,” Masehe explained when asked by iDiski Times.

“But from whatever frustration from the fourth official, she ended up telling the referee, the coach is using uncomfortable language.”

The dismissal came during a difficult evening for Sekhukhune United, who were beaten 2-0 by Orlando Pirates. The result followed Pirates’ 1-0 victory over Babina Noko in the first leg of their MTN8 semi-final in Polokwane this weekend.

Masehe suggested Kaze’s reaction was influenced by the action taking place on the pitch. He said the coach had wanted clarity from the officials but that the exchange developed into an incident that resulted in his removal from the technical area.

Kaze watched the rest of the match from the stands after receiving the red card. His dismissal could also affect Sekhukhune United’s plans for the second leg of the semi-final, which is scheduled to take place at the same venue on Saturday.

The coach will now wait for the relevant disciplinary process to determine whether the red card leads to any further punishment. At this stage, the sanction confirmed by the incident is his removal from the technical area during Tuesday evening’s match, while any additional consequences will depend on the disciplinary outcome.

For Sekhukhune United, the defeat leaves them facing a challenging task in the return fixture against Orlando Pirates. They must respond after suffering another loss to the same opponents, with the second leg offering an opportunity to overturn the first-leg deficit and progress in the MTN8.

The latest match also means the club may have to prepare for the return fixture without Kaze on the touchline, depending on the outcome of the disciplinary proceedings. Masehe’s explanation provides Sekhukhune United’s account of how the red card was produced, with the assistant coach insisting the exchange began with a question about the officials’ delay rather than an intentional attempt to confront them.

The incident will now be considered alongside the match officials’ report as the relevant disciplinary authorities decide whether Kaze’s dismissal carries additional consequences.

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