Junior Questions Tom's Penalty Calls In MTN8 Final

Junior Khanye, an analyst for iDiski TV, questioned the penalty calls made by referee Abongile Tom during the MTN8 final held in Durban on Saturday, which featured Orlando Pirates against Mamelodi Sundowns. Sundowns secured their victory with goals from Teboho Mokoena and a penalty from Iqraam Rayners in injury time, effectively ending Pirates' run in the Wafa Wafa Cup.

The match saw a penalty awarded to Orlando Pirates in the 60th minute when Mokoena was seen to have fouled Yanela Mbuthuma in the box. However, Ghampani Lungu failed to convert the penalty, as it was saved by Sundowns' goalkeeper Ronwen Williams. This moment was pivotal for Pirates as it could have equalized the match.

Later in the game, another penalty was given when Thapelo Mokobodi was deemed to have fouled Siyanda Ndlovu in the box, which Tom ruled a foul. Rayners stepped up to convert the penalty and ultimately secured the trophy for Sundowns.

Khanye expressed his belief that neither penalty should have been awarded, describing both incidents as 'soft.' He commented on iDiski TV, "Referees sometimes ruin a game because for me, I don’t think both penalties were actual penalties. The Orlando Pirates penalty and Skwish’s were not penalties according to me. The first one was soft because the ball was played, and while there was a bit of a stretch from Tebza, it was not that much of a push. Even if the incident happened outside the box, I wouldn’t have given a foul. To me it was too soft.

He continued his critique with regard to the second penalty, saying, "I don’t understand why it was a penalty because Ndlovu lost the ball; he wasn’t obstructed. He lost the ball, and when the opponent saw him and read the situation, he ran to the ball and fell, resulting in a bit of contact. I can’t say that was a penalty. I think the referee was trying to rectify his blunder from the first penalty."

For a detailed analysis of the 2026 MTN8 final, viewers can check out Khanye’s breakdown on iDiski TV's official YouTube channel.