Championship wrap: Sono names referee Man of the Match

Jomo Cosmos coach and owner Jomo Sono was left fuming after his team played to 1-1 draw at Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila as he felt the referee Nkululeko Siyeni was biased against his team in a GladAfrica Championship match at Thohoyandou Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Cosmos took the lead through Chijioke Omeke early in the second half but were denied their first win of the season when Thembisani Nevhulamba equalised in stoppage time for the home side.

Sono felt the seven minutes the referee added was unfair and lashed out at the official for his decisions that he felt were meant to help Tshakhuma to a win.

“Did you see the seven minutes? Was there any player who was taken out and treated for seven minutes? Maybe we were watching a different game but I never saw any player being treated for seven minutes,” Sono told the local media after the match.

“When I asked the fourth official, he said he didn’t know where he got it from. I don’t think he was fair. He was trying for them to get an equaliser and perhaps a winning goal. I have been involved in football for 40 years and I have never complained about the referees but this one, no. He deserves Man of the Match award. I don’t know how much they will give him. Man of the Match gets R3 000 (in the GladAfrica Championship).

Other results

Cape Umoya United 1 (G. Roelf) Swallows 0

The Dube Birds suffered their first defeat when Gregory Roelf used his experience to pounce on a defensive miscommunication in the second half of the match played on Friday afternoon. Swallows’ keeper, Lutho Mbanjwa came out of his line to try and intercept a long ball but was beaten to it by Roelf who then rounded the 21-year-old keeper and pushed the ball into an open net.

TS Sporting 0 Richards Bay 1 (D. Saal)

The Rich Boys turned things around on Abantu Bemthetho, beating them in their own back yard with  Devon Saal netting the only goal of the match and helping his side to their first win of the campaign.

Free State Stars 1 (B. Sambok) AmaTuks 1 (C. Mbesuma)

Having conceded three in their opening match a week earlier, Ea Lla Koto were looking to make amends at home and looked to be on the right track when Booysen Sambok gave them the lead. But it was not to be for Themba Sithole’s team as veteran striker, Collins Mbesuma rescued a point for the visitors.

Real Kings 0 JDR Stars 2 (B. Afeez, O. Ncube)

The Hammer Boys hammered their way to the top of the Championship standings when they beat the magic Boys 2-0 at Mpumalanga Stadium on Saturday afternoon. It was Biodun Afeez and Olwethu Ncube who scored for the visitor who have collected four points in two games.
 

Mbombela United 1 (F. Badenhorst) Ajax CT 1 (R. Kabwe)

Tingwenyama had to come from behind to at least save a point at home to an Urban Warriors side who have hit the ground running in their second season in the Championship. Roderick Kabwe looked to have set the Urban Warriors up for the three points when he opened the scoring but with his national team coach, Kosta Papic in the stands, Eswatini star, Felix Badenhorst ensured parity with an equaliser later on.

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