Junior Khanye has shared his views on the controversial penalty that handed Orlando Pirates a late win over Kaizer Chiefs in the Soweto derby. The former South African international weighed in on the referee’s decision, calling it debatable, and provided his reasoning behind the stance. Khanye also reflected on Pirates’ overall performance in the match.
Khanye, who once played for Chiefs, commented on the late penalty that was awarded to Pirates during the game, which Bafana Bafana midfielder Patrick Maswanganyi converted to secure all three points for the Buccaneers. This victory helped Pirates maintain their second-place standing in the league, while Chiefs remained in fifth.
The penalty came after Njabulo Blom pulled Relebohile Mofokeng in the box, causing the Pirates player to lose his balance and miss the initial opportunity. The referee’s decision to award the penalty sparked frustration among Chiefs players and their supporters.
Khanye made it clear that he thought the decision was a tricky one, admitting that different referees might have made different calls. He said, “Let me clarify it better, the penalty given to Pirates is questionable, one referee would have given it, another would have not, but me as Junior, I wouldn’t have given it.” Despite his opinion on the penalty, Khanye also acknowledged that he had predicted Pirates would win the match, expressing no issue with their victory due to their superior play compared to Chiefs.
