Mamelodi Sundowns star Neo Maema says he felt like he let the team down after receiving the first red card of his career in the first leg CAF Champions League semi-final.
Maema received a straight red on the brink of half-time in the 0-0 draw against champions Wydad at the Stade Mohamed V which also ruled him out of the second leg at Loftus which ended 2-2 with the Moroccan giants advancing on the away goal rule.
His midfield partner Marcelo Allende was also sent off in the same game towards the latter stages of the clash upon reviews with Video Assistant Refereeing (VAR).
Maema says it’s not lingering on his mind anymore but he felt that he let the club down over the incident as they fell at the last-four stage of the competition.
“I’ve never actually gotten a red card if I could remember correctly, and to get a red card at that stage of the season, that big game, it was very disappointing for me and I still felt I could have done better,” Maema said.
“I watched it over and over again and how I felt actually in that moment… I just feel like I got it, I put my team in a very difficult situation, we had to play for a whole 45 minutes with ten men, you know – but the boys showed great character.
“I apologised to the team and also the coach but it’s past and it doesn’t linger in my mind – it actually had a huge impact on the result.”
Sundowns finished the season with only the DStv Premiership title which for the players and coaching staff have stated was a disappointing end to a promising campaign.
