Former PSL coach questions referee’s behaviour at Motsepe League National Playoffs
A former PSL coach questioned the referees’ behaviour at the ongoing ABC Motsepe League National Playoffs in the Northern Cape.
The 2023/24 SAFA ABC Motsepe League National Playoffs officially commenced on Tuesday, 18 June, at Mxolisi Dicky Jacobs Stadium in Upington.
The mentor vented his frustrations with the match officiating during their national playoffs encounter on Wednesday, June 19, 2024.
The coach in question is Kabelo Sibiya, who’s currently with Eastern Cape’s Highbury FC. In the PSL, Sibiya coached teams such as Venda FC and TS Sporting.
KABELO SIBIYA ON MATCH OFFICIALS IN THE NATIONAL PLAYOFFS
In a post-match outburst, the coach stated how “ashamed” he is by the officiating when Highbury played out to a 0-0 draw with Thames FC of North West in their Group B tie.
Sibiya insisted that the referee should have handled the game fairly. He believes that the match official favoured the opposition team because most of the decisions were against them.
“I’m not really impressed by today’s game. Yesterday, we had a very good tournament. Three games where everyone was very happy with the decisions that were taken,” said Sibiya.
“Today, every ball that goes out straight is an offside. Every touch, when we touch the opponent is a foul for the opposition team. But we never got any fouls in this game. The offside that you saw there, even the people here were screaming here and surprised about the decisions.
“When the coach asked the fourth match official there at the bench, they were threatening me but they were laughing with the coach from the opposition team on the bench.”
‘WE CAN’T HAVE A TOURNAMENT LIKE THIS’
Sibiya continued: “You see, we can’t have a tournament like this. It’s a big tournament that has to promote two teams to the Motsepe Foundation Championship, which is the first division of this country. They select players for the national team in this tournament for the COSAFA.
“And we have a shame officiating like this. We can’t have something like this. The game must be won on the field by both teams. If there’s a mistake, we should talk; they don’t have to threaten us. It was three teams here, it was us, Thames and the match officials.
“But the way they behave here is like they’re police officers. They can’t be threatening us.”
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