Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso claims that the red carpet was rolled out in favour of title rivals Orlando Pirates who look likely to end Sundowns’ reign in the league this season.
Sundowns lost 3-2 to TS Galaxy at Mbombela Stadium in their final league match of the season on Tuesday, dashing their title defense hopes. They remained on top of the Betway Premiership standings with 68 points, three points ahead of Pirates who have two games in hand.
While rounding off his side’s league campaign after the Galaxy loss, the coach said he doesn’t think it was a really terrible season for his side as previously they’d have won the league with the same number of points collected this term.
Cardoso also added that the Buccaneers have received favourable decisions from match officials in crucial matches.
“If we don’t become champions it’s because someone else made a very good season but also, I think that the red carpet was open in front of them,” said Cardoso at the post match post conference.
“So it’s important to be fair, to analyse what happened in the recent weeks. I just want you to remember that in the previous match where we played [Kaizer] Chiefs, we have Jayden Adams given a yellow card by a simulation that doesn’t happen.
“It’s not a simulation. It’s a tackle where he jumps to avoid the tackle, and he gets a yellow card. And he’s put out in a moment that we’re going to go for the result because we were indeed in total control of the match.
“And then we are given a penalty in the last match against us and, for example, we saw in the Pirates match, a penalty being given in a simulation, it’s not a penalty it’s a simulation. And the referee not only gives a penalty, he lets the player stay on the pitch. So the judgment throughout the season was very, very, very, very tough.”
‘Pirates Played In Pitches Where We Didn’t Play’
Cardoso also lamented what he perceived as beneficial pitch selections for the Buccaneers, and insisted even the implementation of VAR will not solve all problems in SA football.
“As I said, in terms of calendar management of pitches you saw Pirates playing in pitches where we didn’t play,” he continued.
“We played Magesi, they take us to somewhere in the country where the pitch is small, the Seshego Stadium. But Pirates, they invite them for a big venue, nice pitch, to play football. So this is the reality that we had to face.
“Of course, we should have been strong today and make the points today and reach the 71 points.
“But I also think that it’s very important that South Africa not only brings the VAR as quick as possible and start working very quickly, because if it’s not an effort to be done very quickly, probably less in the next year, the problems will be bigger.”