‘Free kicks and penalties – referee killed the game’

LIMPOPO – Milano United coach, Boebie Solomons, blamed the referee after the team lost 2-0 against Black Leopards in their NFD clash played at the Thohoyandou Stadium on Saturday.

He said it was a good game but the referee killed it. Solomons further said he was very disappointed.

Milano United coach Boebie Solomons blames referee for his team's 2 – 0 loss against Black Leopards in Thohoyandou pic.twitter.com/ocTjtaPpHG

— Godfrey Mandiwana (@mandiwana2) August 22, 2015

“All over, he was okay, but to give free kicks and penalties like that killed the game. I’m not happy with him. He was not doing justice to our football. Only when we play here, do we get these types of decisions against us. We don’t mind, we win and lose games, but we want it to be fair. I’m not happy with the way the referee handled the game and the way he brought Leopards into this game; giving free kicks around the box and penalty,” he said.

“Those small decisions are what I don’t like about playing in this league because matches are not televised and is difficult to lodge a complaint because we don’t have enough evidence.

“Otherwise we dominated the first half and Leopards came back in the second half. We had two opportunities to score goals. We scored two goals in the first half but the referee ruled them off-side. We worked so hard and put a lot of money and effort into our football. It is frustrating losing like this. I don’t know if a formal complaint to the Premier Soccer League (PSL) will help because the match was not televised, which would provide evidence. I can’t blame the Leopards, they scored goals.

“We are strong enough to be able to come back to the PSL. We want to cross the line this season and we have been trying for a couple of years. I’m going to Mthatha to see the Bucks play, in order to know their style,” Solomons added.

Leopards coach, Joel Masutha, commended his players for showing character in the second half. He said he was worrying about the slowness of his players in the first half.

“Last season’s glory is not going to work for us now. We have to work hard. We must play our own football. I’m happy with the performance of our new striker, Thembi Nevhulamba, who terrorised Milano’s defenders and also scored the second goal. He came from the Vodacom league but he impressed me and the entire crowd,” Masutha said.

“Our attacking midfielder, Roggert Nyundu, as well as Leonard Ntshangase, are more committed than the last season. The defender, Herry Nyirenda, will be out for two weeks due to an injury and the captain’s belt will be rotating,” Masutha further said.

In a nutshell, Lidoda Duvha were flat-footed and unorganised in the first half. They came back as an organised team in the second half, putting more pressure on the Milano defense. As pressure mounted, the Milano defender, Mahashe Mzwanele, caught the ball – coming from the wing – in the box.

The referee didn’t hesitate to send it to the penalty box.

Leopards attacking midfielder, Roggert Nyundu, took a very tricky penalty and sent keeper, Lee Langeveldt, to the wrong direction to make it 1-0.

Milano’s attempts to equalise in the 78th minute were fruitless as their striker, Lesvin Stoffels’ volley went over the goalpost. As they continuing attacking, Milano relaxed at the back and Leopards’ new striker, Nevhulamba counter-attacked them, outrunning defender, Nasief Morris and hit the net with a volley to the advancing keeper, Langeveldt, in the 90th minutes to make it 2-0.

The young striker, Nevhulamba, said he wants to score 16 goals in the season. “I want to see Leopards returning back to the PSL next season,” he said.

Black leopards' new striker, Thembi Nevhulamba scored the second goal in the 90 minutes pic.twitter.com/V2QWZQlbT0

— Godfrey Mandiwana (@mandiwana2) August 22, 2015