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Despite Mamelodi Sundowns beating Maritzburg United 2-1 on Tuesday night, to return to the top of the Absa Premiership log, referee Victor Gomes drew the victors' ire.
Sundowns goalkeeper and man-of-the-match, Denis Onyango joined the chorus in criticising Gomes' performance on the night when giving Gaston Sirino his marching orders for apparent dissent.
Onyango also believed he was fouled during the goalmouth scramble which led to Fortune Makaringe bundling the ball over the line for United's consolation goal.
"In my opinion, when I go up I make sure I’m going to catch the ball, but when I’m fouled and the ref says I need to hold on to the ball I can’t do anything more,’ the Ugandan said.
"Because I’m also human because when I go up I also lost my balance, and they made contact with me and I eventually lost the ball. So I’m not sure if it was the right decision, but in my case, I think it was a foul."
Onyango then revealed what Gomes told him while he was remonstrating with the referee following the award of the 83rd-minute goal, which gave 'The Team of Choice' hope of completing a n unexpected comeback.
"He said I must hold on to the ball rather than complain about a foul because I went up, and he believes that I’m a big man, and when I go up I must hold on to the ball, but when I lose balance in the air after the contact I can’t hold on to the ball. But it’s one of those where these things happen," Onyango conceded.
Gomes was also name-checked by Sundowns head coach Pitso Mosimane during a post-match interview with SuperSport TV.
"I told Gaston [Sirino] before the match, I said 'be very careful' because he [Victor Gomes] once told me that Gaston is reactionary. Gaston is emotional, so is Gomes."
