SPORT: Mamelodi Sundowns fight back
The Pretoria team will need to win their three games and hope Pirates slip up if they are to retain the title.
Mamelodi Sundowns are joint top of the Absa Premiership table after overcoming Chippa United 3-2 on Tuesday at Loftus Versveld.
Goals by Hlompho Kekana, Sibusiso Vilakazi and Gaston Sirino were enough to see Downs go level on points with log leaders Orlando Pirates.
A goal by Rhulani Manzini in the 84th minute to take the score to 3-2 ensured that the last six minutes were tense for the Brazilians.
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The reigning league champions were playing catch-up due to their involvement in the CAF Champions League.
The Pretoria team will need to win their three remaining games and hope Pirates slip up in order to retain the title.
But even if Downs top Pirates, the Premier Soccer League (PSL) might still dock them points after they were found guilty of fielding an ineligible player (Wayne Arendse) in their Absa Premiership game against Bidvest Wits in October last year.
Arendse was not in the team sheet handed to the match commissioner an hour before kick-off and added after injury forced the withdrawal of Thapelo Morena 45 minutes later. According to the PSL it was a violation of rules to recall the defender from the stands into the starting line-up.
On Wednesday, PSL spokesperson Luxolo September said the sanction would be handed down in due course.
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“The latest on the matter is that all the parties, the PSL prosecutor‚ Mr Nande Becker‚ Sundowns‚ and also Mr Wayne Arendse have since made written submissions to the disciplinary committee. This is in view of the urgency in finalising this matter. So all the parties have basically agreed to file these affidavits summarising the evidence‚ which normally would be tended orally to the DC.
“The matter was supposed to be finalised early in April but due to Downs CAF commitments, the PSL had to cancel the hearing.
“So there will be no sitting. Which basically means that the process‚ hopefully‚ will be finalised in due course,” September said.
Sundowns now turn their focus on the CAF Champions League semifinal where they resume their rivalry with Wydad Casablanca in the first leg in Morocco where they have failed to win in three attempts.
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