Tuesday’s wild celebrations of ten years’ of democracy which coincided with the inauguration of President Thabo Mbeki impacted negatively on soccer players.
The after effects were visible from players of both Wits University and Jomo Cosmos, who drew 0-0 in their poorly contested game at Milpark Stadium on Wednesday night.
And the game was characterised by bad sportsmanship. Players from both sides misbehaved and then fans cried foul when referee Petrus Mathabela stamped his authority.
Wits’ followers even tried to make a mockery of Mathabela by singing negative songs about him.
Players huffed and puffed around the pitch and in the end shared the spoils from their dull Castle Premiership clash. The result made no change to both teams’ positions on the table.
Wits remained in sixth position. They have to date played 24 games and have amassed 40 points while Cosmos are still lying in 12th spot with 26 points. They have now both played 26 games.
There was absolute nothing to write home about in the first half except to mention the flagrant disregard of the rules by Mathabela on the stroke of half-time.
Ivan Winstanely deliberately elbowed Andrew Rabutla in an off the ball incident. The rules are clear — automatic red card — but Mathabela only showed a yellow card to the ill-disciplined player.
Cosmos looked the better side in the second half just after the introduction of Lefa Tsutsulumba for Bheki Nkambule in the 64th minute.
Wits goalkeeper Wayne Roberts, thwarted Dikgang Mabalane and Manuel Bucuane towards the end. Gareth Devine squandered the easiest of chances to put Wits ahead in the 84th minute. With goalkeeper Avril Phadi at his mercy inside the box, Devine shot wide.
The visitors were in total control of the midfield but failed where it mattered most — scoring.- Sapa