Ghana U-20 Coach Wellington Blames Referee For South Africa Shock

Ghana coach Wellington Olando has blamed the referee for a shock 2-0 loss to South Africa in a Cape Town International Challenge tie Sunday. Hosts South Africa caused the first major shock at the eight-nation invitational tournament as they turned back the Black Satellites with two first-half goals. The host nation have thus bounced back into strong reckoning in this eight-nation international invitational after they lost their opening Group A match 3-1 to Argentina on Friday. The South Africa U20s took the lead after 39 minutes through a header by Thabani Mthembu off a corner kick and four minutes doubled their lead again off a free kick courtesy of Junior Sibande. �I�m disappointed with the referee. Our goalkeeper was pushed for the corner and from there they scored their first goal,� lamented Olando on the match handling by M. Makhobalo. The Ghana coach though admitted his team were not as purposeful as they were against Nigeria on Friday. �We did not approach the game the right way, mentally we were sluggish. South Africa were more determined most especially in the first half. �Their numbers 7 (Snethemba Ngidi) and 6 (Jino Moeketsi) were everywhere in midfield, with or without the ball, they impressed me. They have a bright future ahead of them.� The South Africans could have pounded the Black Satellites of Ghana silly, but they were too wasteful in front of goal as they pierced through the Ghanaian midfield at will. On Tuesday, second�placed Ghana battle leaders Argentina, while pointless Nigeria take on South Africa.