Kaizer Chiefs secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Mamelodi Sundowns in the dying minutes of the Nedbank Cup semi-final, thanks to a late strike by Ashley Du Preez. The goal, which sent Amakhosi into their first final in six years, has now become a talking point across the country—but not for the reasons fans would want.
Replays clearly showed that Du Preez was in an offside position when the ball was played, raising serious questions about the officiating and, once again, the glaring absence of VAR in South African football.
Former FIFA referee Ace Ncobo weighed in on the controversy, confirming that the goal should never have stood.
“In a country without VAR, these kinds of mistakes will continue to happen,” said Ncobo. “If you look at the footage, it’s clear. Du Preez was closer to the goal line than the second-last defender by a margin of about 50cm. That’s offside. End of story.”
Ncobo also pointed out that the assistant referee was slightly out of position, likely anticipating that the defenders would clear the ball. That small lapse allowed the goal to stand, leaving Sundowns on the wrong side of what many are calling a costly blunder.
While Kaizer Chiefs now prepare for a long-awaited cup final, the debate rages on. Is it finally time for the Premier Soccer League to adopt VAR? One thing is certain—the conversation won’t go away anytime soon.
