Former Kaizer Chiefs winger Junior Khanye says referee Jelly Chavani “almost ruined” the Soweto Derby between Orlando Pirates and Chiefs this past weekend.
Pirates came back twice to win 3-2 in what a lot people labelled one of the best Soweto Derbies in recent seasons, with Pirates moving to second position on the log with 33 points, while Chiefs dropped to seventh with 29 points.
However, Khanye insisted the official’s decisions could have cost Pirates a result. One of the most-talked about incidents was the one involving Amakhosi captain Yusuf Maart, who stepped on Monnapule Saleng’s foot early in the game but was only given a caution, while Khanye believes Pirates could’ve had two penalties in the first half, too.
“The referee Jelly Chavani almost messed up this game,” said Khanye on iDiski TV.
“Imagine if Pirates did not win. Kaizer Chiefs deserved to be red carded in this game, Maart that’s a career breaking [injury]. He almost injured him [Saleng].
“Anything above the knee, in fact anything above the sheen is a red card. He [Maart] left the ball and stepped on the guy, on his bone and almost broke his foot.
“I can’t even say he [Maart] is lucky because I think Jelly Chavani knew what he was doing there. I mean if he [Chavani] did not see the incident his linesman and fourth official were closer and saw everything.
“But they knew what they were doing. It is wrong. Orlando Pirates should have had three penalties one Mabasa being pushed on the box.
“I mean someone comes from behind when you have the ball and it’s not a 50/50 shoulder to shoulder challenge, it’s a penalty. Another hit Frosler’s hand.”
