The dust from the Soweto Derby has yet to settle, and the focus has shifted from the scoreboard to a flashpoint that has left former Orlando Pirates striker Phumudzo Manenzhe fuming. The popular analyst has reportedly withdrawn his respect for Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Lebohang Maboe following a controversial incident involving Bucs’ teenage sensation, Relebohile Mofokeng.
The moment in question occurred during Sunday’s 1-1 draw at FNB Stadium, threatening to overshadow what was a fiercely contested tactical battle.
The Incident: A Moment of Madness?
During a heated period of play, Mofokeng was hacked down by Siphesihle Ndlovu, an act that immediately sparked a scuffle between the two sets of players. However, it was what happened next that caught the eye of the cameras:
- The Contact: While Mofokeng was grounded, Maboe appeared to step on the youngster.
- The Oversight: Referee Abongile Tom focused on the original foul by Ndlovu, missing the secondary contact from Maboe entirely.
- The Reaction: Pirates fans and technical staff were left incensed, calling for retrospective action against the former Sundowns man.
“Uncharacteristic” – Manenzhe’s Scathing Assessment
Providing analysis on SuperSport TV, “The Bold” Phumudzo Manenzhe did not mince his words regarding the veteran midfielder’s conduct.
“Lebohang Maboe lost my respect for what he did to Rele Mofokeng,” Manenzhe stated. “I’ve watched Maboe over many appearances for Mamelodi Sundowns and always rated him as a technical, ball-playing midfielder. But for him to stamp on a youngster while he’s on the floor, it’s uncharacteristic.”
Manenzhe also took a swipe at the officiating, suggesting that the game’s management was poor and that missing a red-card offense of that nature was a “big call” that affected the match’s integrity.
Maboe’s Silent Response?
As social media erupted with calls for a ban, Maboe took a subtle approach to the criticism. On Monday, he posted a photo to Instagram showing a friendly interaction between himself and Mofokeng from the match.
While he hasn’t issued a formal statement, the post suggests that the two players may have cleared the air and that the contact was—in his view—accidental rather than malicious.
