Richards Bay coach Kaitano Tembo has questioned the selection criteria to choose the Man of the Match award in the Carling Knockout Cup, revealing that people can vote without watching the game.
This after Andile Jali was surprisingly named as the man of the match and walked away with a cool R100,000 as Swallows lost 2-1 to Bay in the competition’s round of 16 at King Zwelithini Stadium on Sunday.
It was on X, previously known as Twitter, where the Man of the Match award of this cup has been heavily criticized as the concept of voting appears to be a popularity contest rather than a deserved winner.
Yanela Mbuthuma was among the standout performers, provoking Swallows defence and ended up scoring the winner, sliding the ball through the legs of veteran goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi in the second half.
This after Abel Mabaso’s first-half goal was cancelled out by the superb strike of maverick Gabadinho Mhango in the second half.
“It’s difficult,” said Tembo when asked if the so-called small teams are in the disadvantageous position in their players winning the man of the match award.
“It’s a process that allows anyone to vote regardless. Someone who is not even watching the game is voting, and that is the problem. Maybe it needs to be looked at because I don’t think people who were watching the game would be voting like that.
“Maybe it needs to be looked at but at the moment we just have to go with it.”
The Man of the Match award is voted by the fans but since it has received a mixed reception the sponsors and the PSL might be forced into a restrategy.
Bay, whose win was just their second in 10 matches in all competitions this season and also their second against Swallows this term, will now face Orlando Pirates in the quarter-finals.
It promises to be a mammoth task as the Soweto giants have yet to lose in any cup matches since Jose Riveiro arrived in the country in June last year.
