Another high-stakes clash between Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs has reignited the call for VAR in South African football and this time, it’s Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso leading the charge.
After a nail-biting 2-1 loss to Chiefs in the Nedbank Cup semifinal at Loftus Versfeld, Cardoso didn’t hold back. Frustrated and visibly upset, the coach walked into the post-match press conference armed with a cellphone, showing reporters a screenshot he claims proves Ashley du Preez’s winning goal was offside.
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“That was offside. I think we all saw it,” Cardoso insisted. “If you haven’t seen it, go back and look. It’s clear.”
Sundowns had taken the lead just before halftime thanks to Teboho Mokoena, but Chiefs roared back in the second half with goals from Wandile Duba and substitute Du Preez. With only minutes left on the clock, Du Preez’s strike sealed Sundowns’ fate and sparked fresh outrage over refereeing decisions.
“When you work in a country that doesn’t have VAR, this is what happens,” said Cardoso. “We were knocked out of the competition by a referee’s mistake with five minutes to go.”
He went a step further, suggesting that major cup matches especially semifinals should be backed by sponsors to fund VAR technology for fairness and transparency.
This isn’t the first time a Sundowns-Chiefs fixture has stirred VAR discussions. A league encounter between the same sides last September, which Sundowns won 2-1, saw similar debates over questionable goals.
Despite his frustration, Cardoso admitted that Sundowns didn’t bring their best performance to the pitch. “It was not our best game. We can do better,” he said. “No excuses. But we won’t beat ourselves up too much. It’s hard to win everything.”
The defeat continues a worrying trend for the Pretoria giants, who will now go a second straight season without lifting a domestic cup. They crashed out of the MTN8 against Stellenbosch last year and were stunned by Magesi in the Carling Knockout Cup a string of disappointments that led to the dismissal of Manqoba Mngqithi in December, paving the way for Cardoso’s arrival.
With their domestic cup dreams dashed, Sundowns must now shift focus to continental glory. They face defending champions Al Ahly in the CAF Champions League semifinal first leg this Friday at Loftus.
