Foot Africa
·31 August 2025
Manqoba Mngqithi bemoans officiating in Chiefs defeat, calls for VAR

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·31 August 2025
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Mngqithi slams PSL officiating after Chiefs defeat, calls for VAR
Photo: Phillip Maeta
Golden Arrows head coach Manqoba Mngqithi was left unimpressed with the officiating in his team’s defeat to rejuvenated Kaizer Chiefs in their Betway Premiership clash at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.
Abafana Bes’thende saw their three-game unbeaten run come to an end as they fell to Flavio Silva’s debut goal in the second half. The KZN-based outfit dropped to seventh place, having accumulated seven points from their first five league outings.
However, Mngqithi took issue with the officiating, slamming the referees as he is adamant his side was denied a clear-cut penalty during the match. Furthermore, the former Mamelodi Sundowns mentor called for the implementation of the VAR in the South African topflight.
“Sometimes when you look at the decisions of penalties, free-kicks and fouls in the PSL, I don’t think we are winning much without VAR. You can say whatever you want because without VAR we are easily exploited because decisions are taken and we move on, nobody talks,” said Mngqithi.
“It’s Golden Arrows by the way, nobody talks. But if it’s somebody else maybe something happens but the honest truth is that the referees have been given this Carte Blanche way of doing what they want even if the decision is atrocious – it’s okay.
“It just depends on who was beaten on the day, if it’s somebody who is bigger than the other in an animal farm, it will be an issue. So, if it happens against a team that is maybe less fancied, it’s okay we move on, tomorrow is another day, life must go on.
He added: “And you are beginning to complain about chances, goals and penalties and it becomes a mockery yet at that time a decision that was wrong was never put to test with a VAR where everybody would see exactly what happened because I so wish you can see what really happened – that’s a big penalty.
Meanwhile, Mngqithi’s charges will return to Betway Premiership action with a clash against Polokwane City at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Wednesday, 17 September after the FIFA international break.