Menzi Magubane
Former Mamelodi Sundowns coach, Pitso Mosibane, was verbally abused by the team’s fans following their defeat to Mosimane’s current team, Al Ahly, on Saturday.
It remains to be seen how the South African Football Association (Safa) will punish Downs following the incident, but in a statement released by CEO, Advocate Tebogo Motlanthe, they will get to the bottom of the matter and bring the culprits to book.
‘’These individuals have not only humiliated coach Mosimane, they have also brought the name of the country into disrepute,” said Motlanthe.
“We will leave no stone unturned in identifying these individuals and hand out the harshest of penalties to the perpetrators.”
Mosimane returned home for the first time since leaving Sundowns last year to join the Egyptian outfit.
On his way to Lucas Moripe Stadium with his team for the CAF Champions League quarter-final second leg, a section of supporters could be seen on video carrying placards written with insults directed at the 56-year-old manager.
“We can’t tolerate this. Mosimane is our proud ambassador and what these people did needs to be condemned by all civilised society,” said the CEO.
While cases like these usually result in fans being banned from the stadium, Covid-19 restrictions already limit the attendance of spectators at matches, which forces Safa to come up with a different form of punishment in response to the incident.
Sundowns released a statement condemning their supporters’ actions and apologised to Al Ahly.
“Sundowns will institute an investigation and appropriate action will be taken against those supporters whose conduct was improper and contrary to the values and principles that we adhere to.”
In the match, Downs were eliminated from the competition losing 3-1 on aggregate.
