During the 2019/20 season, when Kaizer Chiefs appeared to be running away with the league title before COVID-19 put a halt on things, Pitso Mosimane was a menace to the Soweto giants' camp, accusing them of 'benefitting' from referees' decisions. As it turned out, it was brutal "Jingles" psychological warfare at its best, and in the end, Mamelodi Sundowns secured the league title after Amakhosi threw it away in the last 30 minutes of the campaign. It seems this season we are back in that territory, minus Pitso, as in the 31 matches played in all competitions so far, Arthur Zwane's men have had an incredible 12 penalties awarded in their favour. As would be expected, this has raised the ire of some opposition coaches, including fans who believe the Glamour Boys are getting the rub of the green way too often when it comes to these decisions. But how many of the dozen spot-kicks were the correct decision and how many were the wrong call by the referees? Are the Soweto giants provoking their opponents into mistakes and rash decisions like we saw Stellenbosch FC do against Downs over the weekend for two goals? In this revealing feature, Soccer Laduma investigates how the penalties were won, whether each decision was correct and which players and referees were involved.
The dirty dozen
1) Mamelodi Sundowns 4-0 Chiefs
Shortly after Downs took a 3-0 lead in this match, Mzansi's favourite penalty-awarding official, Victor Gomes, pointed to the spot in Chiefs' favour. The Brazilians were on the attack and were chasing a fourth goal before being caught on the counter. A long ball was allowed to bounce, Khama Billiat found the run of Kgaogelo Sekgota and he tumbled in the area. Replays showed that Teboho Mokoena gave the winger a slight nudge whilst he was travelling at speed, but this was a relatively soft penalty, albeit perhaps the correct call. Billiat had the penalty saved by Ronwen Williams and the Tshwane giants went on to score a fourth goal and make the result even more convincing. Had the Zimbabwean converted, the game would have been alive for a possible comeback.
2) Chiefs 1-0 Richards Bay FC
In this fixture, Amakhosi were reduced to 10 men after 31 minutes as Yusuf Maart was correctly sent off for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity. The Soweto giants played well with a man less and limited and actually created 1.90 Expected Goals to just 0.56 xG for the Natal Rich Boyz. They ended up with a 1-0 victory as a penalty proved their route to a crucial winner. In the 59th minute, with Chiefs dominating the match and counter-pressing well to keep Richards Bay pinned into their own half, Abongile Tom awarded a spot-kick to the home side. Keagan Dolly plays a pass looking for Sekgota's run, but it's overhit. Salim Magoola and Sibusiso Mthethwa fail to communicate properly and Sekgota keeps a lost cause alive. The next thing, he is tumbling in the area and the referee is pointing to the spot. In real time, it's not clear what the infringement is. However, the replay shows clearly that Mthethwa stands on Sekgota's foot and the decision is certainly the correct one. Did Chiefs benefit from the penalty? Certainly, it gained them two extra points as Dillan Solomons tucked it away. Were they favoured unfairly? Definitely not.
3) Chiefs 0-0 AmaZulu FC
In the 21st minute of this DStv Premiership match at FNB Stadium, the Naturena-based outfit are given their third penalty in just the seventh match of the season. They work the ball down the left, where Sekgota receives it. He shows a great burst of speed and beats Thembela Sikhakhane on the outside with a fine dribble. When he toe-pokes a cross into the area, it hits the arm of Mbongeni Gumede. Referee Masixole Bambiso is quick to blow for the infringement. When studied on the replay, the ball certainly hit the defender's arm. The ball travelled a distance of only around one metre, but the arm was in an unnatural position out to the side. The handball also prevents the cross from entering the area. It may feel like a harsh call, but it is, once again, the correct call. Solomons takes the responsibility, but he fires his effort low past Veli Mothwa's goal. The match ends 0-0 and Amakhosi pay dearly for that miss. We therefore can't say that they relied on that penalty to pick up points and we can again say that the referee got the decision correct.
4) Chiefs 2-1 SuperSport United
The Glamour Boys only had to wait two more weeks to receive their next penalty, their fourth of the campaign in the ninth fixture. Against Gavin Hunt's side, they were largely outplayed in the first half against an opponent using an effective direct game on the day. After falling behind in the 15th minute, Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana had equalised by tucking home Ashley Du Preez's low cross. After starting the second half well, the Soweto giants are awarded a penalty in the 52nd minute. After some good pressing, they force SuperSport to give the ball away in their own half. Bimenyimana releases Du Preez away down the right and his low cross is put on a plate for the arriving Maart in the area. He appears to be bundled over and then Sekgota's effort is cleared off the line. Despite the latter attempt being allowed, referee Luxolo Badi points for a penalty to Chiefs. Replays show that Kegan Johannes certainly pushed Maart in the back and the penalty call was 100% right. In fact, the defender wasn't making an attempt to play the ball and could have received a red card for denying a clear goalscoring chance, as per the rules. In fact, the Matsatsantsa youngster was already on a yellow and should at least have seen a second caution and a sending off. Bimenyimana tucks home the penalty and Arthur Zwane's men go on to win the match. They provoked that penalty with good play and were not unfairly favoured whatsoever. In reality, they should have faced 10 men from that moment on!
5, 6, 7) Stellenbosch FC 1-3 Chiefs
This game may be remembered for years to come as the famous 'match with three penalties'. All of them were awarded to the visitors by referee Tshidiso Maruping. Something like that is always going to lead to conspiracy theories and question marks about the calls. On the brink of half-time, with Amakhosi 1-0 down at Cape Town Stadium, a penalty is awarded. At first glance, when Maart fires a pass into the feet of Bimenyimana, it looks like both he and defender Mogamad De Goede slip in the area. The replays instead show contact from the Stellies man on the calf of the Burundian striker, making the penalty the correct call. Former FIFA panel referee Ace Ncobo, who was recently appointed general manager of the Premier Soccer League, assessed the incident on SuperSport's Monday night show, Extra Time. He said, "When the striker turns, he leaves his left foot as he balances his body and in that moment he gets tripped. The referee sees that, that's what brings him down, blows his whistle, points to the penalty mark – spot on decision by the referee. It's just unfortunate that in the Laws of the Game, tripping is an offence and if it's in the box, it's a penalty." Bimenyimana steps forward and converts from 12 yards to make it 1-1 going into half-time. It was a key time to score, as echoed by Stellies coach Steve Barker, who said it "changed the complexion of the game". In the 48th minute, after Chiefs press high and force Stellenbosch to give the ball away, Sekgota is the one to win yet another penalty. He floats a cross from the left, which eventually hits Fawaaz Basadien on the arm. No other player deflected or touched the ball and it travelled a good 20 yards, so the player had time to get his arm out of the way – meaning it is a 100% penalty. Ace Ncobo made that clear by saying, "Clear case of making the body bigger, unnatural positioning of the arm, clear handball. Perfect decision again." Bimenyimana tucks it home and Chiefs have a 2-1 lead. Just a few moments later, with 54:27 on the clock, a third Amakhosi penalty is given. Three spot-kicks in around 10 minutes of action – unheard of! On this one, Njabulo Blom wins the ball in his own box and hits a long pass over the defence for Bimenyimana to chase. He is certainly onside and is running through on goal when De Goede fouls him from behind. There can be no arguments here. A red card is shown as the official felt the defender wasn't making an attempt to play the ball. By tackling from behind, through the striker, there is a fair case for the red card being the correct call. Once again, we can look at what Ace Ncobo had to say: "There was a series of infringements. There is a push there, which the referee does not blow for. He has taken a decision that the (third) infringement is an infringement of holding. There is an obvious goalscoring opportunity that is being denied. That's why it's not downgraded to a yellow. Holding plus a red card – spot on decision." Without doubt, the Soweto giants won the match because of the three spot-kicks, but they also deserve credit for forcing those errors. All three were the correct calls and any conspiracy theories are without basis in reality. A good piece of build-up play, a good piece of high pressing and a fast counter-attack. Those penalties did not magically appear, the side provoked them to a greater or lesser extent on each occasion.
8) AmaZulu FC 4-0 Chiefs
After receiving seven penalties in the first 11 matches of the season, the Naturena-based side then go six matches without one. In the humiliating 4-0 loss at Moses Mabhida Stadium in January, they actually received a penalty just 90 seconds after they fell 1-0 behind. It was a flowing move right from the kick-off and Du Preez is found in the box. He goes down after Abbubaker Mobara's arm catches him. This one is much less clear-cut from referee Masixole Bambiso. Whilst the defender may put an arm across the attacker, Du Preez is already off balance and this feels like one penalty appeal which could have been turned down. Bimenyimana misses it anyway and Chiefs go on to lose 4-0. Had they made it 1-1, the game would have been completely different.
9) Chiefs 2-1 Casric Stars
In this match, under 10 minutes into the action, referee Olani Kwinda blows for handball against former Sundowns man, Mumuni Abubakar. The Soweto giants were on a sustained period of pressure when Bimenyimana's cross hits the Ghanaian midfielder on the foot and bounces up into his arm. There are no real complaints from anyone, but this one was a bit unlucky and certain deflections onto the arm will be ignored. However, there appears to be a slight movement towards the ball and a spot-kick is probably fair. Up steps Bimenyimana to slot home the opening goal and the Glamour Boys eventually progress to the quarter-finals of the Nedbank Cup. You can't call this decision suspicious or worrying at all. It may be soft, but it is a penalty. After seven matches without receiving one, Chiefs are about to enter a golden period of receiving spotkicks!
10) Maritzburg United 2-3 Chiefs
For the second match in a row, Zwane's charges get a penalty. They were 2-0 up early in this match but were pegged back to 2-2 before halftime. In a tight second half with the hosts desperate for points, referee Xola Sitela points to the penalty spot. Well, to be more accurate, he blows his whistle and takes an age to indicate that a penalty has been given. Maart slots in what turns out to be the winning goal. Maritzburg coach Fadlu Davids accused the official of being a Chiefs supporter but Ace Ncobo deemed it a penalty during his analysis as did guests Bongani Khumalo and Phumudzo Manenzhe. Mr. Spot On said, "If a player makes contact with an opponent's body in such a way that that contact impedes the movement of the opponent, that's where we then deem it as a holding offence. Look at how the arm is positioned. It is impeding the player from keeping possession or gaining possession of the ball." That decision was huge in the visitors winning the match and it piled misery on Maritzburg in the relegation battle. However, it was the correct decision once again. Chiefs were not 'benefitting' in the way that Pitso Mosimane meant.
11) Chiefs 2-1 Stellenbosch
For the fourth time this season, Chiefs received a penalty against Stellies. Coach Barker was livid and called it one of the worst refereeing performances he had witnessed by official Tshidiso Mkwanazi. He later said that the Glamour Boys' kit or their supporters must be intimidating officials. The game was at 0-0 when the penalty was handed to the home side for a foul by young defender Olwethu Makhanya on Du Preez. Once again, we can turn to the comments made by Ace Ncobo to get a better idea if the call was correct. He said on SuperSport TV: "There is contact. The defender came in quite late, caught the foot, tripped the player." Despite Barker's outrage in the heat of the moment after fulltime, replays show that all four penalties for Chiefs against his side this season have been correct.
12) Royal AM 1-2 Chiefs
As we know, it is almost eight years since the country's most-supported club have won any silverware. Their Nedbank Cup quarter-final match over the weekend was a massive fixture and when it is decided by a penalty, people will always scrutinise the decision very closely. In the 10th minute of extra time, Mduduzi Shabalala is sent racing away down the left, only to be chopped down by goalkeeper Xolani Ngcobo. There can be zero complaints or denials about the validity of the ball – it's a penalty without doubt! Maart casually slotted home from 12 yards via the crossbar and Chiefs progress to the semi-finals to face perennial rivals Orlando Pirates.
Summary: The refs are getting it right!
After looking at all 12 penalties awarded to Amakhosi this season, an astonishing total, we can see that almost all of these were the correct call. Whilst there were a couple of soft handballs, they were arguably not refereeing errors at all. Opponents can't point to one official who loves handing penalties out to the Soweto giants either. An incredible 10 referees have been responsible for awarding the decisions, with Tshidiso Maruping awarding three in one match and nine other 'men in the middle' each giving one spot-kick. Just because almost all of these penalties were valid doesn't mean that other calls, like missed red card offences by Amakhosi players or unfair dismissals for opponents or missed fouls, haven't helped Chiefs get points. However, we can put aside the penalty conspiracy theory and should give some credit to the likes of Du Preez and other attackers for their ability to induce opponents into costly mistakes!
