Tshabalala opens up on Otladisa incident v Pirates

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Tshabalala opens up on Otladisa incident v Pirates

Sep 23, 2026 – 07:00 pm
By Sipho Mlotha

Former Platinum Stars winger Tintswalo Tshabalala has offered a word of advice to Marumo Gallants midfielder Katlego Otladisa, after he reacted angrily on the bench after being substituted midway into the first-half in a 2-0 loss to Orlando Pirates.

Gallants new head coach Ronnie Kanalelo made a surprise change in the 22nd minute with the score still goalless against Pirates on Sunday in a Betway Premiership clash and questioned Otladisa’s commitment after his side eventually lost 2-0.

“It was all about not giving effort. I think that the willingness was not there to help the team and we had to take action, you know, before it was too late, because it was evident that Pirates targeted our right side,” Kanalelo explained.

The former Buccaneer winger added fuel to the fire after he was seen fuming and throwing tantrums on the bench after his substitution.

Speaking to KICK OFF, Tshabalala says he does not see anything wrong if a coach substitutes a player who is not following instructions early in the game although he cautioned that the move could backfire, as Kanalelo is new at Gallants and is yet to win the dressing room over.

“If you don’t give the coach what he wants, at any given time he can take you out. If as a coach you don’t give me what I want, I have to take you out. Maybe he (Otladisa) was not following his instructions, sometimes the coach would say move this way and you do your own thing? No, I take you out,” Tshabalala said.

“(However) it could backfire, you know as players sometimes we become one unit, so you destroy that, we would never win for you. In fact you win the game in the changeroom first, you have to know that. Sometimes the player you take out is the one influencing other players.”

Tshabalala, however, was not pleased with Otladisa’s theatrics on the bench and gave him a stern warning.

“But when it comes to reality, if they take you out after a minute from the start of the game, you have to be strong, because you don’t know the future. Football is cruel,” the former Black Leopards left-back-cum winger said.

“I’m very disappointed that he did that, he should know better. He has long been in football. You remain professional and ask the coach afterwards. You don’t react like that when a coach takes you out. There’s no star in football. That mentality has to pass. How many players are not playing because of attitude?

“You forget that you’re at work, it’s not some kasi challenge (amateur football). He is a senior player now. He can do better. I will confront him. I’ll tell him straight to stop that attitude,” Tshabalala added.