Stellenbosch FC coach Steve Barker was fuming after his were knocked out of the Nedbank Cup in controversial fashion. Picture: BackpagePix
Image: BackpagePix
Stellenbosch FC coach Steve Barker is fed up with his team being on the wrong end of controversial decisions against the two Soweto clubs Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates.
Barker left the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium fuming on Saturday evening after the latest incident against Chiefs, which led to his team being dumped out of the Nedbank Cup 3-1 in Gqeberha.
The game was locked at 1-1 deep into stoppage time and seemed set to be heading for extra time when George Matlou appeared to have pushed Stellies goalkeeper Sage Stephens from an incoming corner.
With Stephens out of action, it allowed Chiefs winger Pule Mmodi to stab the ball into the Stellies net from close range.
The assistant referee immediately raised his flag to indicate the foul on the Stellies keeper Stephens.
However, referee Sikhumbuzo Gasa ran across to the side of the field for a lengthy discussion with his assistant referee before overturning the decision to award the goal - much to the ire of both Stellies players, who protested vehemently, and Barker on the sideline.
Mfundo Vilakazi added a third for Chiefs a few minutes later to seal the game for the Amakhosi, but by then the Stellies’ players had their gumption knocked out of them.
Barker was fuming at the post-match media briefing where he declined to speak about the match, and instead highlighted incidents in the past when refereeing decisions cost his team badly against the Soweto giants.
“So, two years ago, in the MTN quarter-final, we got a penalty in the 96th minute against Chiefs at Danie Craven, and it gets overturned,” Barker said.
“We play in the final against [Orlando] Pirates. They take a free kick five metres in advance. That gets given. Today [Saturday], the linesman puts his flag up for a foul on the goalkeeper, which you can clearly see it was. It gets overturned. So what can I say?”
Barker stated it was a “blatantly a foul” on Stephens that led to Chiefs’ second goal.
“I'm not going to talk too much about the game. It doesn't help us sit here and try and explain,” he said.
“You know, we could have done this or they done that better or we done that better.
“Ultimately, the game's decided once again on a refereeing decision. So, yeah, it's just really disappointing and I've re-looked at it.
“Fortunately, the linesman has given his flag up, what he's seen as a foul on the keeper, which blatantly was a foul.
“So, you know, it really doesn't help us sit here and talk about the match, to be honest with you.”
Ironically, Stellenbosch’s next Betway Premiership game will be against Pirates at Athlone Stadium on Tuesday evening.