Assault case against PSL coach
A COMMON assault case has been opened against Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane following an incident at the end of his club’s 3-3 Absa Premiership draw with AmaZulu in Umlazi on Sunday.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Thulani Zwane confirmed that a case had been opened against a known personality but would not mention his name.
“Yes, there’s a case opened. It is a case of a common assault. It was opened (on Sunday) at Umlazi police station in D-section. We are still investigating the case. A 49-year-old male was allegedly assaulted with a clenched fist by a known suspect,” Zwane said.
At the end of the match, two Sundowns supporters invaded the pitch and security caught them and took them off the field. But Mosimane was unhappy with the manner in which the security guards treated the supporters.
Mosimane tried to pull the supporters off security so that he could walk them off and that led to a scuffle. The police reacted quickly to separate Mosimane and the security.
AmaZulu media officer Brilliant Mkhathini confirmed a case had been opened.
“Our security service provider, Nathi Ngwenya, opened the case after the game. He is the head of Ngwelele Security Services which is the company that is responsible for security at our home matches.”
Mosimane had denied assaulting any security staff in a post-match interview on Sunday.
“There were no punches there. You are trying to make a scene. Where were the punches?” he asked.
“Our supporters, two of them got on to the pitch. What do you do, you usher them out. You don’t drag them like they are criminals. They are not even resisting (to leave the field). This thing of showing off that we can drag somebody off the pitch (brutally) must end,” Mosimane said.
“I was just trying to say to the guy, take him off properly.
“That guy wanted to be on television so that his family can see him. It is unbelievable. If the guy resists then you can use other means but they were not resisting. He’s our supporter, let me take him off.”
PSL acting chief executive Mato Madlala said they were still waiting for the report of the match commissioner.
Sundowns are still in Durban and will take on Golden Arrows in a league match tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Minister of Sport and Recreation Tokozile Xasa has expressed shock following an alleged attack on a referee by the owner of Black Leopards David Thidiela.
This was after a football match between Black Leopards and Bloemfontein Celtics. Black Leopards lost 1-0 at Thohoyandou on Sunday.