28 October 2019, by: Thabang Kgeledi

Telkom Knockout Talking Points – Quarter-Finals

A bumper weekend of Telkom Knockout football has concluded and as usual, there is no shortage of talking points from the quarter-finals.

Bernard Parker curled his spot-kick into the right-hand side netting, away from Wayne Sandilands’ big right hand to give Kaizer Chiefs a 4-2 victory on penalties (the match ended 2-2 after extra time). The win breaks Kaizer Chiefs four-year (1456 days to be exact) no win streak against Orlando Pirates.

Some Orlando Pirates supporters are still clinging on the fact that they still haven’t lost against Kaizer Chiefs in 90 minutes. That paints a picture of where Orlando Pirates are at the moment. The pressure is on Rhulani Mokwena who has only won three of his eleven games in charge. Ernst Middendorp and his team are enjoying a purple patch.

With a season that ebbs and flows, it’s no guarantee that Amakhosi will be as dominant in a few months. Kaizer Chiefs need to take advantage of their current form by winning a trophy to end their four-year (1640 days to be exact) drought and the Telkom Knockout is ripe for the picking.

We experienced another weekend with more refereeing controversy. In the Soweto derby, Thembinkosi Lorch got away with a stomp on Khama Billiat’s calf that Stone Cold Steve Austin would have been proud of.

Later Daniel Akpeyi, maybe still excited about the Springboks, rugby tackled a Pirates player in the penalty box but he was not penalized.

On Sunday Chippa United coach Norman Mapeza, in his post-game interview, questioned some of the decisions of the referee’s in his team’s loss against Sundowns

“I think the referee was a little bit harsh on us but at the end of the day I’m still new here and I don’t want to talk much about the referees, I don’t know how they operate, so it’s unfortunate to end up getting those six yellow cards, definitely it’s going to affect us in our next few matches but you know it has happened and there’s nothing we can do.”

It seems as though the more refereeing decisions are discussed the more the referees mess up. They have been calls for the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) to be implemented in our league but Acting PSL CEO Mato Madlala says it will take time for that to happen. The referees are under attack and they need help. We’ll just have to wait and see what the league is going to do about it.

In this year’s Telkom Knockout quarter-finals, three games went to extra time and penalties. The team that won their game in regulation did so with a one-goal margin. The past 12 cups haven’t been won by any team named Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs, or Mamelodi Sundowns.

In terms of resources, these so-called ‘smaller teams’ cannot compete with the aforementioned big three in the league. This is the reason they go all in to win the ancillary trophies.

Sundowns snuck past a poor Chippa United side on penalties to see them through to the semifinals. Downs are coming off a demoralizing loss to Kaizer Chiefs in the league and couldn’t afford to let Chippa United get the best on them.

When Sundowns don’t perform to the level that is expected, none of us neutrals (or at least me) are bothered, they have enough players of quality to make another PSL team. When Pitso complains about his workload of playing CAF Champions League games whilst ‘other teams are resting’ we don’t bat an eyelid either because their success and their riches make it difficult for us to care.

For a team like Sundowns not to have won a domestic cup in over four years (1419 days to be exact) is something that their supporters and soccer pundits should be speaking more about.

The Telkom Knock semifinal draw was made yesterday after the Sundowns and Chippa United game. Steve Komphela and Golden Arrows will host Mamelodi Sundowns. Sundowns aren’t playing to the best of their ability. Pitso Mosimane’s stalwarts like Kekana, Mabunda and Vilakazi haven’t impressed.

It could be that they are slow starters, it could be they are tired of winning, or it could be they are getting older. Golden Arrows can beat any team on their day but when they don’t show up they tend to lose by big margins.

What a time to be a Kaizer Chiefs supporter. Everything is going your way even shoddy refereeing decisions. Maritzburg United is a team that was nearly relegated last season and is now on a five-game winning streak in all competitions. They are playing exciting football Kaizer Chiefs should be wary.

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