Ntuthuko Maphumulo
Natasha “Iron Lady” Tishiclas of Sundowns and Irvin “Iron Duke” Khoza of Orlando Pirates wield great power in South African soccer circles and abroad and their teams have shown in recent weeks that they are a law unto themselves.
Last month Pirates players protested so vehemently against a decision taken by the referee during their game against Ajax Cape Town that the match was abandoned. The club must answer charges of bringing the league into disrepute.
At the weekend Sundowns captain and assistant coach Daniel Mudau slapped team-mate Charles Motlohi after the latter failed to convert his penalty shoot-out effort, handing the BP Top 8 cup to Kaizer Chiefs.
Sundowns also failed to honour a league match this week against Jomo Cosmos, citing an African Champions League fixture this weekend as the reason they did not show up.
Alex Shakoane, public relations officer for Sundowns, dismissed complaints, saying: “Both the Premier Soccer league [PSL] and Jomo Cosmos knew that we would not honour the league fixture and we are now awaiting to hear from the league’s disciplinary committee.”
Ajax Cape Town want to be awarded the three points for the abandoned match, while Cosmos also want the points for Sundowns’ no-show. The two teams have not yet been awarded the points pending the final decision to be made by the disciplinary committee.
In England a few seasons ago, when Middlesbrough failed to honour a fixture they were docked three points, which came back to haunt them at the end of the season. Bryan Robson’s team were relegated: the three lost points would have saved them from the drop.
The PSL disciplinary committee is known as a toothless body but now it should show some steel against the Iron Duke and the Iron Lady.
l Sundowns were granted a reprieve by the Confederation of African Football this week and allowed to register three players for the champions league. Sundowns had not been informed of the change of date for registration and put through their notification late.