Sekhukhune chairman declines comment after Orlando Pirates warm-up incident

Sekhukhune United chairman Jonas Malatjie has refused to elaborate on an incident in which security personnel associated with Orlando Pirates appeared to intimidate the visitors’ goalkeepers before Tuesday’s Betway Premiership match at Orlando Amstel Arena.

The security staff were seen stopping Sekhukhune’s goalkeepers from carrying out their customary drills and warm-up routines before the fixture began. The episode has raised questions about whether Orlando Pirates’ matchday procedures were fair.

Sekhukhune’s goalkeeping department was reportedly conducting its preparations in an area allocated to the home side. Under Premier Soccer League regulations, teams may warm up only in the section of the pitch corresponding to their assigned dressing rooms and technical benches.

Malatjie said he was aware of what had happened but did not want to discuss the matter further.

“I do not have any further comment regarding this matter. I am aware of the incident, but it is not appropriate for me to comment further,” said Malatjie, speaking to KickOff.

He reiterated that position when asked whether he believed the incident required further explanation.

“The situation speaks for itself; there is no need to add or subtract anything.

“Therefore, I have no additional comments,” he added.

The incident took place before a match which Orlando Pirates won 2-0. The result gave Abdeslam Ouaddou’s side victory over Sekhukhune ahead of the teams’ return meeting in the second leg of the MTN8 semi-finals this weekend.

It will be the third time the two teams have faced each other within seven days, increasing the intensity around a fixture that has already produced a disputed pre-match talking point.

Ouaddou acknowledged the difficulty of preparing to face the same opposition repeatedly in such a short period. He said Pirates had struggled to impose their preferred style during a demanding first half, as Sekhukhune applied sustained pressure and defended aggressively.

“Yes, it’s not easy to play a team two times in a row, we had a very difficult first half, I think the opponent came to press us, very tight, aggressive, we didn’t manage to find the free space, free man to come out with the ball to play the game that we want,” Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou told SuperSport TV.

The coach’s assessment came after Pirates secured a two-goal victory, with the teams now preparing to meet again in the MTN8 semi-final second leg.

The pre-match dispute centred on the location of Sekhukhune’s warm-up rather than events during the game. The PSL regulations specify that each club must use the area linked to its dressing room and technical bench, meaning the designated sections are not interchangeable.

Malatjie’s comments leave the matter without a further public explanation from the Sekhukhune chairman, while the two clubs turn their attention to the decisive semi-final meeting.