Soweto bad boys see red
Rulani Mokwena took a leaf out of his mentor Pitso Mosimane’s book when he slammed Kaizer Chiefs for their behaviour during the Soweto derby over the weekend.
Erick Mathoho (l) and Samir Nurkovic of Kaizer Chiefs (c) fight with Ntsikelelo Nyauza of Orlando Pirates during the Absa Premiership 2019/20 football match between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates at Soccer City, Johannesburg on 09 November 2019 ©Gavin Barker/BackpagePix
Mokwena might be right about what happened on the field on Saturday but deliberately turned a blind eye on what is happening at Pirates where two of his players in Mthokozisi Dube and Happy Jele were sent off in one week, while Tshegofatso Mabasa escaped a red card after almost breaking Lindokuhle Mbatha’s leg.
I must say the rate at which Chiefs and Pirates players are getting red cards is alarming considering that both teams are trailblazers and the rest of the clubs use the Soweto giants as a ‘manuals’.
Mokwena’s comparison of Chiefs players to thugs is a low blow, especially when his job seems to be on the line. His comment also make the Pirates interim coach look like he is running out of ideas and blaming everyone but himself for the mess.
It’s high time footballers check their behaviour and should be held accountable for their actions. Harsher punishments need to be enforced on footballers who are behaving badly to curb these fist fights. Hit them where it hurts the most – straight at their pockets.
Because as it is now, the subsequent scuffles by players after the referee blows his whistle makes the nasty phrase “football is a gentlemen’s game played by hooligans” seem true.
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