Soccer
Tensions boilover between Celtic and the Brazilians─── 09:57 Mon, 15 Sep 2014
Bloemfontein - Premier Soccer League champions, Mamelodi Sundowns, have built on their momentum by beating a 10-man Bloemfontein Celtic 1-0 at the Free State Stadium yesterday.
The tightly contest affair as thrown wide open in the 65th minute when Alfred Ndengane received his matching orders for a somewhat controversial second bookable offence.
Seven minutes later, Elias Pelembe scored the games’ only goal as the drama erupted on the pitch when Celtic goalkeeper, Patrick Tignyemb violently pushed captain, Wandisile Letlabika in a shove that looked like a punch at first glance.
After a few heated words between the players, Tignyemb shoved his skipper again before their team-mates and referee separated the two.
“Unfortunately we made a couple of mistakes and they punished us, but I’m proud of my team and I think we did very well,” Letlabika said on his sides’ performance.
“I think it was a good surface although there was a rugby game here yesterday, I don’t think it was too heavy,” the player said on the field that was cut longer than usual.
“It’s a man’s game…each and every player makes mistakes, but the reaction happens with big mistakes.
“For me it was a big lapse in concentration, but next time I will pick up my head and move forward,” Letlabika said about his mistake which lead to the goal and left Tignyemb fuming.
The Cameroonian-born goalkeeper blamed the incident on the heat of the moment.
“We played very well…unlucky we made a mistake and conceded a goal. It’s football, but it’s very painful, it’s very sore.
“It was a good opponent with good players, so to concede a goal like this hurts,” Tignyemb said about the goal which led to the on-field drama.
“When you play football like this against a good team you want to do well. It’s better to concede a good goal and lose rather than losing because you’re useless, but like I said it’s football and where all human beings,” said the goalkeeper on the expectations of the game.
“It’s going to talk to him (Letlabika) and I’m sure everything will be fine,” the senior man concluded.
Tignyembs’ actions could lead to a further sanction although the referee was wrong in not taking on-field action.
The rule says - Violent on an opponent, a team-mate, referee, the sanction remains the same. The only difference is the referee will awarded a free kick to restart the play.
PSL spokesman, Lux September, told OFM Sport that he cannot comment on the matter until an official report has been submitted.
The camp will want to put the matter to rest as soon as possible with another tough away assignment lying ahead. Phunya Sele Sele next face the ever difficult SuperSport United who have returned to winning ways with former Bafana Bafana coach Gordon Igesund leading them to a 3-1 against Platinum Stars.
Siwelele face SuperSport United on 27 September at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Pretoria.
Morgan Piek / OFM News
