Irked Sundowns boss Mokwena lashes out at Ahly complaints

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena lashes out at his Al Ahly counterpart Marcel Koller for their complaints after the loss in Tshwane.

Mokwena addressed the complaints laid by Ahly when speaking to the members of the media ahead of the African Super League semi-final clash in Cairo on Wednesday night.

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The complaints laid by Ahly to CAF come after losing the first leg 1-0 at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Sunday afternoon – Mokwena is unhappy.

MOKWENA LASHES OUT AT AHLY’S ‘COMPLAINTS’

Mokwena was quizzed about potential penalty complaints, which Ahly were not given and the Red Devils complained but he is unhappy with how the North Africans conducted themselves.

“I am very surprised that Al Ahly complained about everything,” Mokwena responded on the complaints per iDiski Tines.

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“Before the first leg, Al Ahly complained that we played at 3 o’clock and yet they are allowed to fixture the game at their time that suits them. You hear no complaints from Mamelodi Sundowns.

“I am surprised that Al Ahly [are] always complaining about the referee, only when they lose.

“Jose Mourinho once said ‘once a big club is starting to look for other factors, apart from football when they lose, they start losing their status as a big club’.

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“And I hope that’s not the case with Al Ahly because they are the flagship of African football. The rest of the world and Europe look at Al Ahly as a reflection of what African football represents.

“And so my question after the complaint is, what is really the intention? Because I can go through a list of incidents, where the referees did not act what I thought was the just way.”

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MOKWENA UNHAPPY WITH COMPLAINTS, POINTS OUT FOULS ON HIS CHARGES

At the same time, the 36-year-old Mokwena went on to point out a number of incidents where he thought the referee could’ve ruled in Sundowns’ favour.

“And first let’s acknowledge that [Mohamed] Hany comes into the match already with a yellow card, and the rules are if he picks up a second yellow he misses the next match,” adds the coach.

“He makes a clear foul in 10:43 against Thapelo Maseko, no yellow. He makes another foul in minute 39:53 against the same Thapelo Maseko, stops a promising attack, and gets no yellow card.

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“27:08, there is a sliding tackle from [Marwan] Ateya on Gaston [Sirino] in front of the box, no yellow card. [Mohamed] Abdelmonem a few of seconds earlier fouls Themba Zwane, no yellow card.

“31:04, a late slide tackle on Gaston Sirino, no yellow card. 36:16, Abdelmonem pulls Thapelo Maseko down in front of the box, no yellow card. All of these are promising attacks and situations where the offender should get a yellow and the laws of the game are very clear – persistent fouling is a cautionable offence…

“There is a shout for a handball that hits [Reda] Slim, 56:34. No penalty for Sundowns. 65:34, Mendieta is pushed inside the box by Afsha, no penalty, no yellow. 76:55, [Ali] Maaloul fouls Maseko…

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“At the end of the game, Sundowns [had] seven fouls, two yellow cards. Al Ahly 13 fouls, one yellow card. I think if there is a team that needs to complain, it should be Mamelodi Sundowns, but we don’t complain because our’s is to trying to understand where the CAF leadership is trying to take African football…

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“The game of football, which is governed by FIFA, is that of fair play and you can win, lose or draw. And when you lose you show good sportsmanship, you shake hands, especially when the opponent was better than you.

“Let’s go to the data: Mamelodi Sundowns 67% ball possession, Al Ahly 33% possession. 89% pass completion, 639 passes from Sundowns, double the amount of Al Ahly’s 314. 15 shots on goal, only three for Al Ahly.

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“When an opponent is better than you, we shake hands. we show good sportsmanship, you congratulate your opponent. And you make sure that the game of football remains the game of football, which is the game that we all love and the beautiful game.”

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