Former Kaizer Chiefs winger Junior Khanye has questioned why senior players at Orlando Pirates did not step up to take the fourth penalty against Jwaneng Galaxy in the CAF Champions League second preliminary leg last Friday.
Pirates went into that encounter needing a 2-0 victory over the Botswana side but wasted goal-scoring opportunities though they won the second leg 1-0.
The score meant the game finished 1-1 on aggregate leaving it to be decided in a shootout. Jwaneng Galaxy converted all five of their spot kicks while the 18-year-old missed Pirates’ fourth with the Buccaneers ultimately missing out on the group stage of the Champions League.
Khanye made comparisons between himself and Mofokeng and added that senior players should have led especially considering the magnitude of the occasion. He also adds that the midfielder needs to know that the penalty miss does not make him a bad player.
“Where was Monare, where was Mako, even Shandu, Makgopa where were they as senior players?” asked Khanye on iDiski TV.
“Those are senior players and I don’t believe that young boy just raised his hand to take that penalty. I don’t think he volunteered, he was told go and kick a penalty. Of course, I have been in a situation like this and I had the like of Shoes.
“With us we volunteered to take penalties and you can even go and ask the guys I played with. You can volunteer but you have to make sure that when you take it you don’t let the team down”
“Unfortunately for the boy Relebohile I don’t think he volunteered, they just said to him boy take it but with these senior players available and the truth is this thing is going to hurt him. But this boy is one of the best talents leave the penalty out if it. I mean the likes of Messi and Ronaldinho also miss penalties.
“This boy is young and it was his first time taking a penalty in the Champions League. This is not a DStv Premiership match or a cup match it’s the Champions League and we must give him credit for his braveness and step up but unfortunately, because of him, the team is out. He is one of the best talents he mustn’t forget that.
“The boy must keep his head high and the coach must talk to him and let him know that the incident doesn’t make him a bad player overnight because there is still a long way to go.”
You can watch Khenye’s full analysis of the match between Orlando Pirates and Jwaneng Galaxy on iDiski TV official YouTube Channel.
