Things are heating up in Varsity Football ahead of the play-offs with a few coaches starting to feel the pressure.
There will be no margin for error in the last round of fixtures on judgment Monday as teams will be hoping to secure their final positions on the standing.
Although the four semifinalists have been confirmed, their final placings are far from certain and things can still change on the final day, with those who are already out of the running set to play the party spoilers role.
NMMU coach Lukhanyo Wasa is not one to complain about match officials, but he lost his cool against TUT in their 2-2 draw on Monday afternoon.
The pressure is beginning to take its toll on the modest coach as he let it rip. Wasa felt the referee was too harsh on his charges by gifting hosts TUT soft decisions in the top of the table clash.
His team is now lying in fourth position on the log after starting the match in second place, and at this stage they are in danger of missing out on a home semifinal.
It is no longer in his team’s hands and they lost their grip on the sixth match after being in control of their fate for the past five weeks.
But there could still be a twist in the tale on the dramatic last day of explosive Monday football.
Wasa said: “I must be honest that I’m not that type of a person who always comes with excuses and complains, but I’m not happy with the referee and the way he handled the game. He was giving free kicks and fouls to the opposition the whole 90 minutes. And the yellow cards were flying like they were coming out of fashion.”
But he did admit that TUT were the better team in terms of the chances created in the match. And there were times when his charges were hanging on by the skin of their teeth, especially in the first half.
“They gave us a tough game without a doubt. Sometimes you give instructions to the players and they don’t carry it out the way you want it. My players panicked a little bit and allowed them to play the long balls,” he said.
Wasa is worried about where his team will finish on the table, which will have a deciding factor as to where they will play the semifinals.
“I wanted to win this one but I’m hoping that TUT will slip up against Wits in their last match. I’m also hoping that in the game between Tuks and North West, one of them will lose and we will beat Free State at home to get that home semifinal,” he added.
By Charles Baloyi – Daily Sun and Sunday Sun Sports writer
