25 Feb 2014

Township Rollers middle-fielder, Maano Ditshupo, has promised to deliver a scintillating performance at the finals of the Mascom Top 8 tournament on March 1.

Ditshupo was speaking minutes after hearing that he will be able to play in the Top 8 final after a red card that he was given over the weekend was overturned.

Rollers supporters were left seething on February 23 after their team’s premier league encounter with UF Santos.

Referee Gaontebale Malete slapped Ditshupo with a red card after he fouled UF Santos player, Tlotlo Leeto, which meant that Ditshupo would not be eligible to play in the Top 8 final.

Many felt that the player did not deserve a red card especially as the yellow card was his first booking. The premier league later intervened and overturned the red card.

Chief executive officer, Bennet Mamelodi, later explained that they overturned the red card after the referee admitted that he had made a mistake in booking the player.

“After thorough consultations and careful consideration of the match reports we have taken a decision to overturn Ditshupo’s red card,” he said.

Mamelodi explained that the premier league did not have a referee’s review committee, but had the powers to intervene in extreme circumstances.  He said Malete made an error by giving Ditshupo a red card.

After Ditshupo committed a foul on Tlotlo Leeto, the referee gave him a yellow card followed by a red card. “The referee thought it was the player’s second booking and therefore gave him a red card,” said Mamelodi.

In a subsequent interview, Ditshupo thanked the premier league for overturning his red card and promised to deliver his best performance during the final. ENDS