Harambee Stars’ goalkeeper trainer Moeneeb Josephs has criticized a South African football giant for lacking sportsmanship after their recent league defeat. Despite being in Kenya preparing for the national team’s crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers against The Gambia and Gabon, Josephs has been keeping an eye on developments back home in South Africa.
The Premier Soccer League (PSL) title race took an interesting turn when Mamelodi Sundowns suffered a 2-1 defeat to Orlando Pirates. Before this match, Sundowns had been dominant, winning 12 of their 14 league games, including a 4-1 thrashing of Pirates just a few weeks prior. However, Pirates managed to turn the tables, scoring both their goals in the opening five minutes.
This victory kept Pirates in second place, 15 points behind Sundowns, but with four matches in hand. If they win all four, they could reduce the gap to just three points, making the title race more competitive.
Following the match, Josephs, a former Pirates goalkeeper who played a crucial role in their last league title win in 2012, was unimpressed by the behavior of Sundowns’ coach, Miguel Cardoso. He criticized the Portuguese tactician for not shaking hands with his opposite number, Jose Riveiro, after the game.
Josephs expressed his disappointment, stating that Sundowns appeared to struggle with handling a loss. He pointed out that while emotions run high in football, true sportsmanship is about maintaining respect in both victory and defeat. He highlighted how Sundowns’ coach was quick to shake hands after a win but avoided the same gesture after losing, calling it a sign of weakness.
The post-match behavior drew further attention when Cardoso was seen heading straight for the tunnel instead of acknowledging his opponent. However, later footage showed him in a deep conversation with Riveiro on the pitch once the stadium had emptied, suggesting there may not have been intentional disrespect.
Josephs, who spent five years at Orlando Pirates between 2008 and 2013, has always been vocal about his admiration for the club. His connection with Pirates was further strengthened when Benni McCarthy joined the team in 2011, playing a pivotal role in their league and cup double-winning season of 2011-12. Since then, the two have developed a strong friendship and coaching partnership. They previously worked together at AmaZulu before reuniting in Kenya, where McCarthy took charge of the national team and appointed Josephs as goalkeeper trainer.
As much as Josephs has an eye on South African football, his primary focus remains with the Harambee Stars, particularly in selecting the right goalkeeper for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. The team has named Ian Otieno, Brian Bwire, and Faruk Shikalo in the final squad. The players departed from Nairobi for Abidjan, Ivory Coast, where they will face The Gambia before taking on Gabon three days later.
The team is determined to secure positive results in these fixtures as they aim to keep their World Cup qualification hopes alive. With the expertise of McCarthy and Josephs, the Kenyan side hopes to bring their best performance to the pitch.
