Ex-Pirates star explains why Chiefs did not deserve penalty against Gallants

Former Orlando Pirates forward Phumudzo Manenzhe does not feel Kaizer Chiefs deserved a penalty in their match against Marumo Gallants.

Chiefs played out a 1-1 draw with Gallants at the FNB Stadium on Tuesday but had a chance to win the game when they were awarded a penalty on the stroke of halftime.

By then, Chiefs were 1-0 up after Khanyisa Mayo scored on his Chiefs debut but Gaston Sirino stepped up and missed with Jaisen Clifford later curling in a beautiful equalising goal 15 minutes from time.

Phumudzo Manenzhe critical of missed penalty

From the penalty incident, Gallants defender Marvin Sikhosana was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box as he went down to tackle Ashley Du Preez but Manenzhe disagrees with that decision as he feels it was harsh on the defender who could not do much to keep his arm away.  

“The ref gives the penalty and one thing that is always important now is, is he falling or he is tackling. He is on his way down, where else can that arm be?” he posed on SuperSport TV.

“There was nowhere else where that arm could be as we look at a great save from Washington Arubi. For me, it is the penalty, nothing against the ref.

What does the ex-Pirates star disagree with?

“I am just trying to understand the laws of the game to say when you are making a tackle like that and you are using your arm to balance yourself and the ball touches your arm, you cannot give that as penalty because where else could his hand be?

“Was the movement from his hand towards the ball? I do not think so, and that is why I am saying a little bit harsh from the referee.”

Luckily for Gallants, Sirino took a tame shot which saw goalkeeper Washington Arubi dive the right way to keep it out with ease.