Posted in News on Mar 01, 2004.
A clearly upset Amakhosi boss Kaizer Motaung, who doesn't normally give his views until getting the other side of the story, said the club would have to take drastic steps. Such drastic steps could see the enfant terrible of South African soccer warming the bench in games to come or even being shown the door.
It is not the first time that Pule has gone AWOL on the eve of a crucial match, but his club has been patient with him and supported him when he revealed that he had a problem with chemical and substance abuse.
Pule pulled a similar stunt in July 2001 when he missed a couple of training sessions before going AWOL, along with Patrick Mbuthu, on the eve of their crucial league match against Free State Stars at Ellis Park Stadium. Mbuthu was subsequently offloaded at the beginning of this season.
He committed the same offence in May last year and was hauled before an internal club tribunal, although later forgiven. But this time he seems to have made his bed and Chiefs appear ready to let him lie on it.
"Unfortunately Jabu went missing on Saturday. In fact he missed the morning session and also missed the camp. As such we had to replace him and we still don't know why he was absent as he has not contacted anyone in the club," said Motaung.
"We may have to take a decision that could decide his future for once and for all."
About the game, Motaung said it was a typical cup match that lived up to expectations. The Amakhosi boss, however, slammed Sundowns coach Paul Dolezar for "inciting the fans" when decisions went against his team. "We expected to have a tough game but the league will have to do something about the conduct of Dolezar for inciting the fans," said Motaung.
It was a personal triumph for Chiefs coach Ted Dumitru, who put one past his former club, but he also condemned the actions of his Sundowns counterpart and called for strong action. "I think there was a lot of provocation," said Dumitru. "It's not for the benefit of the game and I think we almost had a huge problem. That was the most vicious penalty you can have and I don't understand what is it they are complaining about," said Dumitru.
Chiefs took the lead on 33 minutes with a well-taken penalty by veteran midfielder John "Shoes" Moshoeu after striker David Radebe was brought down in the box.
"We received two yellow cards and if any club were to complain it should be us," said Dumitru. "If you judge the way Tinashe was yellow carded, it's ridiculous. The ball was in the hands of the opponent and Tinashe was booked for time delaying."
Dumitru said the club would protest the two yellow cards and ask the SA Football Association (Safa) "to review the situation".
"It was a typical cup match. The tension and the pressure levelled the field. We played well and never allowed them any clear goal chances," said Dumitru. "We let them back in the game when they were a man down and I think that was a big mistake. We had dominated up to that point and we thought it was our game. Cup matches can be played even with nine-man reverse the results."
As for Pule, it appears he has fallen out of favour with his latest stunt. Asked for his opinion on this, Dumitru threw his hands in the air in despair. "I don't give a damn," he lashed out. "If he cannot be a winner in his life we cannot win matches with him. Enough is enough."
Dumitru was full of praise for youngster Junior Khanye who was thrown in at the deep end in place of Pule. "He is the next Jabu Pule at Kaizer Chiefs," declared Dumitru. "He is not yet ready but I wanted to prove a point. I took a risk by playing him in this cup match and I think he did exceptionally well."
