Kaizer Chiefs duo clear the air over costly offside mistake

A costly moment of miscommunication that denied Kaizer Chiefs a potential victory in the Betway Premiership has been smoothed over, with the two players at the heart of the controversy—striker Khanyisa Mayo and midfielder Pule Mmodi—detailing their candid conversation to the media.

The incident occurred earlier this month during Amakhosi’s clash with AmaZulu FC at FNB Stadium. Mmodi unleashed a goal-bound shot, only for a seemingly over-eager Mayo, who is currently on loan from CR Belouizdad, to touch the ball while clearly in an offside position, negating the effort. Mmodi’s visible frustration captured the drama of the moment.

Addressing reporters at the Kaizer Chiefs Village ahead of their midweek league fixture against Siwelele FC, both players were open about how they resolved the blunder.

Kaizer Chiefs duo Clearing the Air: “These things happen”

“During the game at halftime, we spoke about it, and I apologised,” explained Mayo. “He said to me, ‘No, these things happen.’ It’s football. It was a lapse of concentration. I wasn’t aware of my surroundings. And it happened, and we moved on.”

Mayo added that the discussion continued even after the final whistle. “We spoke about it even after the game. I gave him a call, and we spoke about it. He said, ‘No, don’t worry, these things happen. It’s done. Let’s focus on what is next.’”

Mmodi, the former Golden Arrows star, backed up his teammate’s account, emphasising the nature of the game. “This is football,” Mmodi stated. “And it’s been a long time knowing Mayo. He’s a striker who likes to score goals, and I didn’t take that personally… Everyone makes mistakes. No one is perfect. So life goes on because the next day I’m gonna need him.” The swift resolution highlights the professional understanding and trust within the Chiefs squad.

Mmodi Clarifies His Evolving Role

The media session also saw Mmodi take the opportunity to address his increasingly demanding position on the field since coach Nasreddine Nabi’s tenure began. Though Nabi has since departed, the tactical setup seems to have left its mark.

“Since Coach Nabi came here, and Coach Khalil Ben Youssef, he said he wants wingers with so much energy to go up and down,” Mmodi clarified. “For now, I can say I play as a wing, fullback, or whatever. If we attack, I have to be a wing, and if we defend, I have to help the left back.”

He acknowledged that the complexity of the role may not be obvious to all observers. “But I think for me, it’s so many people who don’t understand the role that I play. Only football players or someone who has a football sense can clearly understand the position that I’m playing. And obviously, I’m familiar with the position, as long as I always give my best because I’m a hard worker.”

The focus for the Amakhosi duo and the rest of the squad now shifts to their upcoming league encounter as they aim to put the offside nightmare firmly behind them.