Sundowns news: Behind Mambush’s hot ‘klap’ to Charles Motlohi

Former Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Charles Motlohi has lifted the lid on what actually happened the day Mambush Mudau clapped him on the pitch.

The incident happened during the 2001 BP Top 8 final between Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs.

The two teams needed penalties to separate each other, and the last Sundowns player to take a penalty was the injured Michael Manzini.

And he, unfortunately, missed it before Doctor Khumalo converted and sealed victory for the Soweto giants.

Now, according to Motlohi, as he was walking off the pitch, Mudau came running to him together with several other teammates.

However, Mudau didn’t even want to hear the reason behind Motlohi’s refusal to take a penalty that afternoon.

In his defence, Motlohi said he had a chat with the late Joas Magolego to say he would be the last one to take the spot kick.

And the reason for not taking an early penalty was still hurt from being accused of selling a game to Bloemfontein Celtic the previous season.

He didn’t want a repeat of that in the event that he misses his penalty against Chiefs in the game of that magnitude.

But what happened is that Manzini just voluntarily stood up to take the penalty which eventually cost Sundowns the trophy.

SUNDOWNS LATEST: MOTLOHI’S VERSION ON MAMBUSH INCIDENT

“We were playing Celtic the previous season; the first match of the season. I think it was the Top 8,” Motlohi said to TK on TK Solutions TV.

“I want to make a pass but the grass at Loftus was just to heavy. It was made specifically for rugby.

“And as I attempted to make the pass, a Celtic player dispossessed me and scored, and we lost that game… I can’t remember if it was 2-0 or 2-1.

“On Monday, the Greeks (Tsichlas) came to me and said, ‘we hear rumour that you sold the game’, and I was shocked and asked, ‘which game?’.”

“They said, ‘people are talking but we will investigate’, and I said, ‘no problem’ .

“Now, with the Chiefs game, I speak to Hluphi (Magolela) and another teammate I can’t remember.

“And I said, ‘you remember the error I made last season. So, please, let me be the last one to kick a penalty’. We spoke about it.

“While we were sitting and while I was waiting for my turn, Manzini just stood up and kicked the penalty. He missed,” explained Motlohi.

“Now, I was the first one to stand up and walk away, and the likes of Mambush came running and pointed fingers at us.

“He was like, ‘hey man, why are you being cowards? How can you let this guy take the penalty? I couldn’t explain at the time because we’d just lost,” he continued.

“And the reason was what happened the previous season where I was acussed of selling a game but they didn’t want to understand.

“That’s how we had that altercation. We even had the same altercation in the dressing rooms,” added Motlohi.

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