The referee was harsh — Tso Vilakazi urges Sundowns to appeal Grant Kekana’s red card

Benedict "Tso" Vilakazi has called for Mamelodi Sundowns to appeal the straight red card issued to central defender Grant Kekana in the CAF Champions League first-leg semi-final 1-0 victory over Esperance in Tunis.

Algerian referee Mustapha Ghorbal gave Kekana his marching orders in the 86th minute for a foot in the air close to Esperance striker Florian Danho’s head.

This forced Sundowns to defend their slender lead, courtesy of a headed goal from Colombian striker Brayan Léon, for the remaining four minutes of regular time and a further 10 minutes of injury time, with a man short.

Vilakazi, the former Bafana Bafana and Sundowns midfielder, believes that Ghorbal was too quick on the draw and that Sundowns should appeal the decision, especially with the second leg at Loftus Versveld coming up on Saturday and a potential final.

“I think Sundowns can appeal for that red card because I still feel that, yes, the leg was high, but he didn't touch it. He got the ball,” Vilikazi said on iDiskiTV.

“The main thing of your leg was up. Yes, it should be, maybe a yellow card. It's a foul, but not a red card. I think the referee was harsh.”

Kekana had been at the heart of Sundowns’ defence, making crucial tackles throughout the game, most notably in the first half when he slid in under Danho as the Frenchman was closing in on Ronwen Williams’ goal.

“If you recall how he was covering in the first half, in terms of the striker of Esperance, making those runs,” Vilakazi said.

“I mean, he did a very, very good job there at the back. So, you need Kekana in that defence. I would say to Sundowns, go and appeal for that red card. I don't think he deserves to get a red card.”

Sundowns were already without the suspended Aubrey Modiba at left-back for the first leg with Zimbabwean Divine Lunga taking his place. Modiba was severely missed down the left flank with the majority of Esperance’s attacking forays coming through on Lunga’s flank.

Coach Miguel Cardoso could have given former Stellenbosch left-back Fawaaz Basadien, who has CAF Confederation Cup semi-final experience, an opportunity. Instead, Basadien was left on the bench despite the Portuguese tactician making plenty of changes towards the end to keep Esperance at bay.

“The only player that I was worried about was Lunga. And they nearly scored because of Lunga,” Vilikazi said.

“Again, the ball went through his leg, and then they made a cross. They had the miss. And he was one player for me that was not in the game. But other than that, I think everyone fought.”