Former Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Charles Motlohi has opened up about the difficult moment he endured when he was slapped by Daniel ‘Mambush’ Mudau.
The 53-year-old ex-footballer was assaulted following a crushing final defeat to Kaizer Chiefs in the 2001 BP Top Eight decider. Speaking to TK Solutions TV, the former midfielder reflected on the infamous incident dubbed as ‘the slap that was heard around South Africa’.
Chiefs snatched the BP Top Eight trophy from the jaws of defeat after the match ended 2-2 after regular time. Amakhosi won 7-6 following a drama-filled shootout at the FNB stadium. The biggest talking point however happened after the match when ex-Sundowns captain Mudau slapped Motlohi.
“I keep hearing the likes of Fabian McCarthy saying Charlie did not want to take a penalty but they don’t know what happened,” Motlohi said.
“I have never really spoken about the incident except with a few people from radio stations. I was so angry that day, that I never spoke to anyone. I told Sundowns management that I wanted to leave, I told them I wanted to quit soccer,” he said.
Ex-Sundowns star Motlohi explains what let to Mudau’s slap
“After the match ended, we had five penalty takers in our team. I spoke to Hluphe(Joas Magolego) and i said ‘man, you know the error I made last season, I’m asking you guys to take your penalty kicks, and I will be the last kicker, let’s go’. While I was still speaking to Hluphe and the other player, Manzini walked over to the penalty area and took the penalty while we watched. He missed, Doctor(Cyril Nzama) scored and we lost the match.”
Motlohi said after Chiefs’ winner, Mudau and other Sundowns players came running to him.
“After the loss, I was the first one to leave the field but as I was walking down the tunnel, Mambush and the others came running to me. They were shouting and asking ‘why are you guys cowards, why did you leave him to take the penalty’. Because we lost, I didn’t have the time or energy to explain why I opted not to take a penalty,” he said.
“I gave them my reasons based on the game against Celtic where I was accused of match fixing. Unfortunately, they didn’t listen to me. That’s when me and the brother had our exchange on the ground and dressing room.”
The former midfielder said Ted Dumitru and the others came to comfort me and encouraged him to continue.
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