Stellenbosch FC head coach Steve Barker feels referees may be intimidated by Kaizer Chiefs and their supporters but went on to explain his anger, despite the red card and penalty being legitimate calls.
Stellies went 2-0 down and saw their goalkeeper Sage Stephens sent off in the opening half hour and were carved open almost at will for large stages of the first half.
Barker responded by hauling off Andre de Jong and Qobolwakhe Sibande for Jayden Adams and Fawaz Basadien before the break, while Devin Titus was forced off for the introduction of goalkeeper Lee Langevedt earlier on.
Nhlahla Mgaga also made way for Sihle Nduli at the break and his bold decisions paid dividends as Ibraheem Jabaar puled one back straight after the kickoff in the second half, but Ashley du Preez’ penalty and Keagan Dolly’s goals were enough for Amakhosi to secure a vital three points in their quest for CAF Champions League football.
“One must congratulate Chiefs, they seem to be a team that puts others under a lot of pressure when you getting, 11, 12 penalties a season, last six matches, three red cars in the first half to the opposition,” Barker said in his opening post-match statements.
“Well done to them, they must be doing something right and creating problems for the opposition – I’m disappointed in the ref today, I think they had double-figure freekicks around the box.
“Dolly has three or four pots, Mashiane, Shabalala had some chances to take. I’m not denying some of them were freekicks but I’m not sure why we didn’t get any in that final third around the box where Iqraam Rayners was held on many occasions.
“You know when opposition players even apologise to you about the performance of the ref, credit to the players for recognising that and being bold enough to say what they said, some throw wins, the ref looking in one direction, fortunately, the linesman shows a different way.
“So, that’s the anger and disappointing side of the evening, but it’s done, it’s over, we move on, it’s four penalties against us, against Chiefs in the last two games and we were denied a penalty in the 97th minute in the quarter-final in the MTN8 which was given.
“I’m not to sure what it is, maybe it’s the black and gold jersey that is intimidating, the crowd intimidating, I’m not sure – but our first half performance was probably the result of not winning this game, second half we fought hard and I don’t think anyone would have denied us an equaliser for the last kick of the match.”
When pressed for an answer over his strong criticism of the officials, despite the two big calls seemingly being correct, the Stellies boss stated that he appeared one-sided to a certain degree as they didn’t get their share of the calls.
“I’m not denying some of the freekicks or even the penalty was a [legitmiate] penalty, I’m not sure if it was offside leading to the penalty, I haven’t been able to look at that,” Barker said when asked by iDiski Times about his anger at the officiating.
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“I’m not denying that it was a red card or a penalty, I’m just looking at the whole context of the game and many other decisions that went against us – I don’t study data, I don’t study statistics but those stats over a season, I would love to have those in my favour. But as I said, we have to put, maybe credit, where credit is due.”
