Stellenbosch FC coach Steve Barker was left fuming at the injustice after Golden Arrows snatched a late goal in the referee’s optional time to salvage a draw at Princess Magogo Stadium on Friday night.
When the goal was scored, Barker stormed to the pitch to confront referee Olani Kwinda who then, having heard what he said, flashed the red card to send him off.
With the game finished, Barker was incensed and did not want to speak to print and electronic media after the game, with his assistant coach Wesley Sergel the one conducting interviews.
Barker was pacing around the media zone like a cockroach that had just been doomed, looking extremely angry.
The media politely asked him to get his assessment but Barker acted like he didn’t hear a thing.
After the game, in fear of the fury or further punishment from the league, Barker gathered himself and went to apologise to the Kwinda, accompanied by his club’s team manager Angelo Kerspuy.
“He was happy that the goal came and time was already two minutes up!” said Sergel sarcastically.
He then added: “We don’t have the reasons why the referee played the next extra two minutes when four minutes was shown.
“The referee gave us no answer and that’s why coach Steve got upset. But (we asked the referee) to at least give us the reason why he added two more minutes – there were no stoppages, no injuries, and no substitutions, but we played 46 minutes in the second half.
“But we conceded the goal because of the pressure which they put on us. The game should have been over in 94 minutes.”
Having completely run Arrows rugged in the first half where Stellies should have scored more, they didn’t. Sergel said it was painful to lose the two points in the last minute.
Stellies took the lead in the first half with a brilliant header from Jaydon Adams. However, Stellies dropped off in the second which gave Arrows the impetus to snatch a draw via Thabani Zuke.
“It’s massive, its two points dropped for no reason and that takes us below Orlando Pirates which would have put us in the fifth position,” said Sergel.
“These are small margins, but they make a big impact in the league table.”
