Truter Responds To Questions Over Nedbank Cup Final Penalty

Sekhukhune United head coach Brandon Truter has responded to questions over the contentious penalty in the Nedbank Cup final, but insisted he would like to put the matter to rest.

The incident was the turning point in Saturday’s match after Truter’s charges had opened the score and were in control before it happened in injury-time in the first half.

Sekhukhune striker Victor Victor Letsoalo was lying on the grass and appeared to have touched the ball with his hand in his own box when Thembinkosi Lorch wanted to dribble past him.

Referee Thando Ndzandzeka pointed to the spot for a handball and Thapelo Xoki converted to equalise. Terrence Dzvukamanja scored the winner late in the game to hand Pirates the trophy.

Truter believes that whatever he says about the incident now is irrelevant as it will not change anything also admitting that he needed to calm down before attending to the post match duties where he refused to talk about the incident.

“Whatever answer I give you, Rob, people may think I’m bitter or I’m just being diplomatic. But look like I said we will take the experience, some were given some wasn’t given,” Truter told Marawa on Radio 947.

When pressed for an answer on the basis of a situation where his team wasn’t involved this is how Truter responded.

“VAR would have a look there but unfortunately we don’t have it in South Africa but like I said I think there was a show [Extra-Time] two weeks back and the issues were addressed, the exact same thing [when] Sammy Seabi was involved and there was another earlier this season with Gabadinho Mhango in the MTN8.

“So yeah, sometimes it’s given sometimes it’s not, but I would say that common sense would prevail in that moment because there are no laws at times.

“Unsporting behaviour, it’s caused a bit of an offence based on that referee’s opinion at that moment. For me to say anything now… I’ve licked my wounds, I’ve put the matter to bed and I would like to move on from it.”

When asked for a yes or no whether it was a penalty, Truter responded: “Based on my reaction, no.”

Truter also confirmed that he actually tried to be more calm in press conference after the match, where he had refused to speak on the incident.

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“I had to calm myself down for the players, of course and really think about the situation,” he explained.

“Going to a press conference thinking about some comments I made a few weeks back as well, my manager sat me down, even the media department at the club as well, said ‘coach lets calm down before we go into press conferences’.”