‘You walk or smile and get R100k’: Khenyeza on CKO man of the matches
Outcries over the fan-selected man of the match system in the Carling Knockout Cup are continuing with the Golden Arrows coach Mabhuti Khenyeza being the latest to question it.
The Carling Knockout Cup MOTM accolade goes along with a R100 000 cheque. And for one to walk away with it, they should be voted for by the fans.
The CKO kicked off last week with 16 DStv Premiership clubs battling in the round of 16. And last week’s man-of-the-match winners brought about big controversy, particularly in the matches that involved the so-called big clubs.
Many argued some superstars didn’t deserve the R100 000 cheques as other players whose names don’t carry weight were better on the field.
Meanwhile, Khenyeza’s side defeated Cape Town City 3-1 to go through to the next round. And the Arrows gaffer has raised eyebrows over the man of the match winner of that tie, Khanyisa Mayo.
He also questioned other winners including Keagan Dolly, Thembinkosi Lorch and Andile Jali.
MABHUTI KHENYEZA ON CARLING KNOCKOUT MAN OF THE MATCHES SYSTEM
“I don’t know how they select this thing because even when you’re standing, you get selected as man of the match,” he said in the media open day on Tuesday.
“Maybe one day they will vote for the referee, you never know because it doesn’t go to the person who performed well. Let’s just be honest, we’ve seen it in previous games.
“A player just walks and get R100 000 or smile and get R100 000. So, you never know…Maybe one day they will vote for the referee. And maybe one day they will get angry [big teams fans] and not vote and get the analysts to choose.
“You look at Sundowns game [against TS Galaxy], they changed it because they could see…Look at our game against Cape Town City, Mayo won it but he was just walking.
“Lorch [in Orlando Pirates versus Cape Town Spurs game] and the one for Dolly of Kaizer Chiefs [in a match against AmaZulu]. And Andile Jali in the Richards Bay match against Moroka Swallows.
“So, you really don’t know the criteria of this thing.”
Arrows will play the KZN derby with AmaZulu FC in the Carling Knockout quarter-final on Saturday, 4 September at 8:00 pm at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.
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