The perceived brutality of Kaizer Chiefs in their recent high-profile encounters continues to draw widespread condemnation, with Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso weighing in against the Soweto giants.
This is after Wednesday’s explosive Betway Premiership match between the Masandawana and Chiefs at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, which ended one apiece. Two players, from either side, were forced off the pitch in the first half due to rough play.
First to exit was Sundowns centre-back Keanu Cupido, 17 minutes into the contest, after Siphesihle Ndlovu’s rugged challenge on him. Next to be stretchered off was Chiefs midfielder Mduduzi Shabalala, who was at the receiving end of Jayden Adams’ crunch tackle just before the halftime break.
The incident earned Adams a yellow card, and he was later sent for an early shower following a second booking for simulation. While Sundowns players were also in aggressive mode, it was Chiefs who came under harsher scrutiny.
CHIEFS IN UGLY MATCHES VS PIRATES AND SUNDOWNS
This comes just days after Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou complained, questioning whether Chiefs were playing “football or karate” in the Soweto Derby. He claimed that the Chiefs players—with Siphesihle Ndlovu cited as the primary culprit—targeted his stars during the 1-1 stalemate. The Pirates coach didn’t hold back, alleging that the opposition’s physical approach was an attempt to “break the legs” of key players like Relebohile Mofokeng and Oswin Appolis.
Amakhosi appear to be building themselves a grim reputation as hardmen. The aggressive tactics seem to be working after earning a point from each match against Pirates and Sundowns.
‘NOT THE WAY WE WANT TO SEE THE GAME’: CARDOSO
“We are the ones under emotions, the coaches and the players, and those should be helped to keep the pattern that the game should be kept. I think the game was too aggressive,” said Cardoso.
“And the game of Pirates was also extremely aggressive, and I don’t think it’s the way we want to see the game because that’s not the game we are going to sell to anyone.
“You will never have a [UEFA] Champions League match like this, never, it will not happen. You will never have a [CAF] Champions League match in Africa like the one we saw against Orlando Pirates because it will not happen, it’s not allowed.
“So we must ask why we had two matches like this in the championship in South Africa. Both matches were very ugly. That’s the question I want to put, I don’t know.”
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