By Michael Madyira
It was not acts of sheer brilliance that sent Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates to the Nedbank Cup semi-finals.
On Saturday, Pirates needed a penalty shootout to escape humiliation and progress against Dondol Stars, a semi-professional outfit playing in the third tier.
Dondol dragged the Buccaneers beyond extra time and were unlucky to miss their final penalty kick.
Dondol co-coach Khuliso Rashamuse even accused desperate Pirates of resorting to “disgusting” underhand tactics to try and gain an advantage towards the end of the match.
There was some altercation during extra time when Dondol’s bench, including Rashamuse, confronted a Pirates official they accused of removing the water bottle of their “asthmatic” goalkeeper Sphamandla Gumede.
Rashamuse believes it was a plot to distract their goalkeeper at a crucial stage of the contest.
“Spha had water there at the goalposts and it was just pure water,” said Rashamuse. So the guy there from Orlando Pirates, I don’t know his name, went there and took that water bottle.
“We had a situation where the game is on and Spha is focusing on the guy and that was very disgusting. You don’t do that because this is a game of tempers and emotions.”
Then the following day, it was also a difficult outing for Kaizer Chiefs at Chatsworth Stadium against hosts Royal AM.
An own goal, yet another penalty, plus more minutes in extra time saved Amakhosi’s evening.
They had Thabo Matlaba to thank for handing them the equaliser after Lesego Maganyi had thrust Royal AM in front.
The contest could not be settled inside regulation time and Amakhosi required substitute Mduduzi Shabalala to earn them a penalty to close the affair.
Even coach Arthur Zwane admitted they were not sharp in front of goal.
“Obviously our lapse of concentration from deadball situations gave them hope,” said Zwane.
“From again taking things lightly but I think that was more like a wake-up call. It doesn’t matter how you score goals.”
The Soweto giants will now meet in the semi-finals.
Pictured above: Orlando Pirates’ Thabang Monare evades the challenge of Dondol Stars forward Tshepo Skhosana
Image source: Orlando Pirates
