Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi complained about the refereeing decisions after his team’s 1-0 loss to Soweto rivals, Orlando Pirates, in a Betway Premiership match on Saturday afternoon.
In a pitch-side post-match interview with SuperSport Television presenter Thomas Mlambo at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, the Tunisian said he was afraid of a red card if he commented much on the referee’s decision.
“I am not going to talk anymore about referees. If I talk, [I will get a] red card. How is your family? Red card. How are you today? Red card,” Nabi said through an interpreter and assistant coach Cedric Kaze.
The former Yanga SC coach said a fair result of the match should have been a draw:
“We gave them a lot of problems especially in our pressing, not letting them be comfortable on the ball because they are a very technical team and if you let them play, they get confidence,” he said.
“We firmly believe it is a game we didn’t deserve to lose. Honestly, I think the correct result of the match was 0-0.”
Pirates won the game in the last minute of the derby when Chiefs’ Njabulo Blom tugged the shirt of Relebohile Mafokeng to give the hosts a penalty which Patrick Maswanganyi converted coolly, chipping goalkeeper Bruce Bvuma.
Chiefs were limited to a few chances which the likes of Ranga Chivaviro could not convert. The Buccaneers, as Pirates are also called, created more scoring opportunities, one being Deon Hotto’s left-footed effort which goalkeeper Bvuma parried.
Pirates have since cut leaders Mamelodi Sundowns’ lead at the league summit to three points. Jose Riveiro’s men have 28 points from 12 games, six points ahead of Chiefs who handed debuts to new signings midfielder Thabo Cele and striker Glody Makabi Lilepo.
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