PSL case: Mobara’s red card vs Orlando Pirates

The result was AmaZulu 2-4 Orlando Pirates, but the Premier Soccer League and AmaZulu are still battling. The point of contention is Abbubaker Mobara‘s red card.

ABBUBAKER MOBARA SEES RED AGAINST ORLANDO PIRATES

The 30-year-old Mobara made what was a brilliant tackle to deny Patrick Maswanganyi a sight on goal. The Mitchells Plain-born was dismayed when the referee blew for a free kick for the Sea Robbers. The drama was heightened when the former Orlando Pirates star was shown a straight red card. Usuthu went on to lose the game 1-0 after a late winner from Tshegofatso Mabasa.

Meanwhile, AmaZulu’s coach Pablo Franco Martin, has confirmed that Usuthu have sent an appeal to the Premier Soccer League to reverse the red card decision Mobara suffered against Orlando Pirates.

“Mobara is suspended because we we sent a report to PSL, because when you are receiving a red card for – first of all, probably is not even a red card due to the situation, but especially is because it’s not even a foul,” Martin said to Gagasi FM, as quoted by iDiskiTimes.

“And then when someone else is making a mistake, if you need to be punished for the mistake of somebody else, I think it’s something ridiculous. We’re not talking even about being fair. It’s bout something that it’s crazy. So the report is there in PSL and we are waiting for two days to reply because we are expecting Mobara to be available for this game and for the upcoming games.

“Because not continue for three games one of our key player for something that he didn’t do and it’s already proven, I think could be something again bad for this football and for this competition,” Martin concluded.

FORCED CHANGES AGAINST ROYAL AM

Orlando Pirates will play against Royal AM on Sunday without three reliable players: Sipho Chaine, Miguel Timm and Deon Hotto.

Goalkeeper Chaine, Hotto at left fullback, and Timm in midfield have started the Sea Robbers’ last three matches, in which Orlando Pirates scored 12 goals and conceded three. Those were the 7-1 win over Golden Arrows, the 4-2 win over AmaZulu in the Nedbank Cup, and the 1-0 win over the same AmaZulu in the DStv Premiership.

Due to four accumulated yellow cards, coach Jose Riveiro has learned that Chaine, Hotto and Timm have been suspended for Sunday’s game in Pietermaritzburg against Royal AM.

Speaking to the media about the situation, the Orlando Pirates coach expressed calm and confidence in his squad of available players.

“I am not thinking too much about players who’ll be missing. We have 38 players in the squad,” Riveiro said via The Sowetan.

“Eighty percent are available to play in a good momentum, so if we get yellow, we get yellow, and if it’s the fourth one, it’s the fourth one; we go to the next game because we have many players ready to go and everyone is going to be needed at this stage of the season,” the Orlando Pirates coach concluded.