Last Saturday's ABC Motsepe League match between Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila (TTM) and The Dolphins at the Tshifulanani Stadium ended in chaos. The score was 2-0 for Madzivhandila when the visitors from Polokwane decided to leave the pitch.
TTM, as they are also known, approached the game with their tails up. Their midfielders, Rolivhuwa Mukwevho and Thembuluwo Manyaga, frustrated the opponents with their ball-winning skills. It took TTM 14 minutes to open their account. Their bulldozer striker, Lufuno "CJ" Mugodi, gave the ball the final touch, following a great pass by Mulisa Luvhengo.
Although their centre forward, Emmanuel Neswiswi, was evidently out of form, the team's head coach, Mr Lucky "Mchichwa" Nelukau, took long to replace him.
Realizing that it was difficult for them to match the home side, Dolphins tried to frustrate the opponents by playing high balls from behind. The score was still 1-0 when the teams adjourned for the half-time break.
The pitch was slippery during the second half as a result of the light showers that were drizzling in the area. The teams continued to display entertaining football despite the odds. TTM replaced Emmanuel Neswiswi with Lutendo Matodzi in the 65th minute. The Dolphins' lethal striker, Xolani Khanya, suffered the pain of watching his header go a little wide. TTM increased the margin in the 74th minute. Their vastly experienced defender, Gift Ramaxwaila, headed home, following a corner kick that was taken by Rolivhuwa "Jali" Mukwevho.
The Dolphins requested the assistant referee to allow them to substitute. After inspecting the card for the player who was about to come on, the assistant referee told the referee that the photo on the card did not match the face of the player. When the referee, Mr Christopher Mugeri, requested to inspect the card himself, the Dolphins' technical staff refused.
Realizing that it would be difficult for them to introduce a player whose card was not inspected by the referee, the team's coach called his players and instructed them to leave the pitch. The league's coordinator, Mr Patrick Seema, was still awaiting the team's reports at the time of our going to print.