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Johannesburg - Bafana Bafana and Sundowns striker Katlego Mphela has vehemently denied the drunk driving charge against him, reports the Sowetan.
Mphela also disclosed that it was not the first time the police officer who arrested him had stopped him on the road.
The arrest came hours after he became a national hero following his last-minute goal against Egypt on Saturday night. He spent time behind bars before he was released on R1 000 bail on Monday. The case will be heard in May.
Even though he admitted he had had a "couple of drinks", Mphela insisted he was not drunk.
Speaking to Sowetan after his ordeal, "Killer" said he did not expect special treatment from the police, but was merely calling for fair treatment.
"I'd just come back from a party in Sandton when I stopped at a restaurant to get a meal. I noticed a police car, which had been following me, also pulling up at the restaurant.
"Just as I hit the road, the police vehicle came speeding with its lights off, and ordered me to stop," he said.
What happened next was nothing short of intimidation, according to the striker.
"The officer ordered me into the police car and I obliged," Mphela said.
"But what bothered me the most was that the officer accused me of being drunk, way before he breathalysed me.
"But I was not about to start an argument."
"I am not asking for special treatment, but only fairness," he continued.
"My rights were never read to me. I was driven all over the place and I never said anything.
"But why should this be? Why was this officer so hell-bent on seeing me arrested?
"I would hate to think that it was a personal thing. But the way he went about the whole thing left me disappointed.
"What makes this matter more confusing is that it was not the first time he had stopped me."
Attempts to get hold of the officer were unsuccessful as his phone rang unanswered and he did not return messages.
Mphela also disclosed that it was not the first time the police officer who arrested him had stopped him on the road.
The arrest came hours after he became a national hero following his last-minute goal against Egypt on Saturday night. He spent time behind bars before he was released on R1 000 bail on Monday. The case will be heard in May.
Even though he admitted he had had a "couple of drinks", Mphela insisted he was not drunk.
Speaking to Sowetan after his ordeal, "Killer" said he did not expect special treatment from the police, but was merely calling for fair treatment.
"I'd just come back from a party in Sandton when I stopped at a restaurant to get a meal. I noticed a police car, which had been following me, also pulling up at the restaurant.
"Just as I hit the road, the police vehicle came speeding with its lights off, and ordered me to stop," he said.
What happened next was nothing short of intimidation, according to the striker.
"The officer ordered me into the police car and I obliged," Mphela said.
"But what bothered me the most was that the officer accused me of being drunk, way before he breathalysed me.
"But I was not about to start an argument."
"I am not asking for special treatment, but only fairness," he continued.
"My rights were never read to me. I was driven all over the place and I never said anything.
"But why should this be? Why was this officer so hell-bent on seeing me arrested?
"I would hate to think that it was a personal thing. But the way he went about the whole thing left me disappointed.
"What makes this matter more confusing is that it was not the first time he had stopped me."
Attempts to get hold of the officer were unsuccessful as his phone rang unanswered and he did not return messages.
