MTN8: Mokwena’s plea to referees ahead of Pirates duel

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena hopes Orlando Pirates players will not injure his charges in the MTN8 final, also sending his plea to referees.

Mokwena reflected on previous matches between Sundowns and Pirates when he said some of his key players were badly injured.

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As the build-up to the final continues, Mokwena has called on match officials to watch their actions and hopes they will not be harassed.

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MOKWENA’S PLEA TO REFEREES AHEAD OF MTN8 FINAL VS. PIRATES

The DStv Premiership Coach of the Season, Mokwena said because this is a cup final, the referees must also bring their A game at Moses Mabhida Stadium.

He referred to career-ending tackles such as that of Tapelo Xoki on Abubeker Nassir and Nkosinathi Sibisi on Marcelo Allende.

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“We know and understand the magnitude of the assignment. Hopefully, it’s a very good game of football without the harassment of referees, without the physicality with tackles that are over the top,” Mokwena told the media.

“Almost every game we lose a player against Pirates like with a very, very severe injury to Haashim Domingo in the Carling Black Label at the hands of Xoki, who was sent off for that dangerous tackle in November.

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“Nasir is still not here because of the situation with Siyabonga Mpontshane [who cluttered into his knee, ruling him out for months in December] and Sibisi took Marcelo out on the halfway line with a studs-up two-footed tackle.

“Marcelo hasn’t really recovered from that.”

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MOKWENA’S PLEA WITH REFEREES IN THE FINAL

The astute tactician seriously made a clarion call to the man in the middle to ensure the fans enjoy the sold-out game in Durban.

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“So, I am hoping for a game that doesn’t have too much of those and we have more football and the people are able to talk about the football and less about the handbags, hopefully, that is the type of game we get to witness,” Mokwena pleaded.

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