Sundowns ‘left’ Pupuma with a bitter taste after Milford defeat
Milford FC coach Xhanti Pupuma was left frustrated after his side suffered a 2-0 defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns on Wednesday night.
Pupuma questioned some of the referee’s decisions during the Betway Premiership clash.
He felt certain rules were applied differently to Milford compared to their opponents.
Sundowns opened the scoring late in the first half in controversial circumstances.
Aubrey Modiba appeared to foul a Milford defender before winning possession.
The Sundowns player then set up Iqraam Rayners, who calmly finished to make it 1-0.
Anthonio Van Wyk added a second goal in the 76th minute. Pupuma admitted his defenders were caught sleeping for the decisive goal.
“To be honest, it is the first time that I leave a game with a bit of bad taste,” said Pupuma.
“Maybe it is from all the Coke that I have been drinking.
“But really, I think some rules are applied to us and not to other teams.
“That is a bit unfair. But at the end of the day, we had to win the game. They scored the goals. The second goal, my players fell asleep.
“Maybe the changes may have caused that. The overall display was quite good, especially in the first half.”
When asked whether he was referring to the first goal, Pupuma confirmed it.
He also pointed to another incident that left him frustrated during the second half.
“I am annoyed by that,” he said. “We have been in that position before, and those rules are applied to us.
“But when it is someone else, they are not applied. Even in the second half, there was a tackle in the middle of the park.
“The referee took out the red card, but then put it back. He did not even give a yellow after seeing who he was about to caution.
“All those things mess it up for us. They mess up a good game because we came to impose ourselves. But we will not look down on ourselves.
“We will pick ourselves up, face Chippa UNited at the weekend and see what happens.”
