Hlungwani has explained the reasoning behind referee Akhona Makalima’s delay in awarding Kaizer Chiefs a penalty during their match against Chippa United. According to the former PSL referee, Makalima found herself in a unique situation where she had to decide between two consecutive fouls committed by Chilli Boys captain Stanley Nwabali.
During the game, Nwabali first brought down Chiefs attacker Pule Mmodi inside the box. However, before the referee could blow the whistle, Nwabali fouled another Chiefs player, Mduduzi Shabalala, in quick succession. This sequence of events caused confusion among fans and players as Makalima took her time before eventually awarding a penalty to Chiefs.
Speaking on Soccerzone, Hlungwani, also known as “The Principal,” praised Makalima for her composure in handling the situation. He explained that her decision to delay the whistle was an example of good officiating, as she allowed play to continue to see if an advantage could be gained.
“Here we see a highly experienced referee, Akhona Makalima, who is on the elite panel of CAF,” Hlungwani stated. “She saw there was too much holding—both legs by Nwabali on Mmodi.”
Hlungwani elaborated on the sequence of events, noting that the referee had to make a tough choice between awarding the penalty for the first foul or the second one. “She was spoilt for choice on whether to penalize the first foul on Mmodi or the second one on Shabalala. With her experience, she delayed the whistle, but since the second one did not lead to a goal, she then made the correct call and awarded the penalty.”
The decision by Makalima was ultimately deemed correct, as she ensured that Chiefs received a fair advantage before stopping play. The incident sparked debate, but Hlungwani’s analysis confirmed that her handling of the situation was professional and within the rules of the game.