Former PSL referee Victor Hlungwani has applauded Jelly Chavani for his bravery in not awarding Orlando Pirates a penalty against Mamelodi Sundowns.
A certain section of the Buccaneers fans felt hard done by Chavani’s decision to wave play on after Khulumani Ndamane tackled Patrick Maswanganyi in the box.
According to Hlungwani, Ndamane got the ball even though it had looked like a reckless tackle with replay also showing the Sundowns left-back had cleanly won the battle against Maswanganyi.
Speaking on Soccerzone, “The Principal” says Chavani was correct in his decision because Ndamani did not commit any offence but instead won the ball.
“Maswanganyi goes and plays the ball; no offside but what happens?” he said.
“Ndamane comes and make a tackle. Does he play the ball or the man? Ndamane plays the ball.
“So, when he plays the ball, where is the offence? There is no offence committed.
“But correct decicion by Jelly Chavani not to award a penalty because it’s not there.”
The Buccaneers went down 2-1 to Masandawana on the night as they lost grip of their six-point gap and are now just three points ahead with Sundowns having a game in hand.
Following that defeat, Pirates then succumbed to a second straight loss when they were booted out of the Nedbank Cup by Motsepe Foundation Championship outfit Casric Stars.
This coming weekend, Abdeslam Ouaddou’s charges face another daunting task when they take on perennial rivals Kaizer Chiefs in the Soweto Derby at FNB Stadium.
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