Stellenbosch FC coach Steve Barker said losing to three penalties and having a player sent in their DStv Premiership clash against Kaizer Chiefs on Sunday was tough to swallow, especially after the club’s controversial exit at the hands of the same team in the MTN8 in August.
Bonfis-Caleb Bimenyimana netted all three kicks from the spot in a first for South African football as referee Tshediso Maruping awarded Chiefs three spotkicks after they had gone 1-0 down.
The first looked soft but there was little doubt about the next two, but it still was hard for Barker to accept.
“It's difficult when that happens to win a football game. Unfortunately, I just don't think we were at our best defensively today. Especially at the start of the game when there were a couple of big chances for them,” he said.
Barker praised the goalkeeping of Sage Stephens which kept them in the frame. “They dominated the first 15-20 minutes but then the game settled a bit just leading into halftime. Obviously, we pressed them in their final third and we were able to get the lead.”
Nhlanhla Magaga forced Chiefs into an error but Chiefs then won a penalty when Bimenyimana and Mogamad de Goede both looked to slip in the box.
“I felt that the penalty that was given just before halftime, just maybe changed the complexion of the game. Going into the change room, obviously it gave them a lift.”
Chiefs then got another penalty after the break as De Goede was sent off for pulling back on the Burundian international.
“You can't really win football matches if you are going to be conceding three penalties in a match and also you know, getting a red card,” said Barker
“In the last two matches against Chiefs there have been a couple of big calls going against us,” he said referring to the last-minute penalty that Stellenbosch were awarded in the cup tie against Chiefs on August, only to have the referee change his mind.
“I'm not too sure either in the rulebook if you can give a penalty and a red card unless it's a really, really dangerous tackle. I don't think de Goede deserved a straight red card and a penalty given against us. So yeah, again, another big call against us,” the coach added.