Mandla Ncikazi (Gallo Images)
Orlando Pirates
co-coach Mandla Ncikazi has slammed the hospitality his side received in
Tanzania following their CAF Confederation Cup quarter-final first-leg defeat to
Simba FC on Sunday.
Pirates lost 1-0, with
Shomari Kapombe’s penalty in the 68th minute separating the sides in their
quarter-final first-leg clash at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar Es Salaam.
In an explosive
post-match press conference, Ncikazi spoke candidly and did not hold back on
expressing himself.
“One, as
Africans, let us change this mentality that when opponents come to Tanzania,
you are so hostile to them that you treat them like animals,” Ncikazi
said, although he did not elaborate on the alleged mistreatment.
“We saw inhumane
treatment everywhere we go. We were treated so badly, but this is a game of
sports that should unite us. But what you get here are hostility and abuse.
“Why do Africans
do this to other Africans? Do you really think the hostility that we get when
we come here when Simba come to South Africa should we treat them that way?
“The treatment
that we got from the stadium to the hotel, from the airport – why do you do
this as Africans to other Africans? Are we going to improve the football in the
continent?”
The Buccaneers’ mentor
then took aim at the officiating, accusing the match officials of deliberately
not using VAR when his side had a legitimate penalty waved away.
“Go and check;
the penalty that Simba got was not a penalty because our defender got to the
ball first.
“Secondly, before
Simba were awarded a penalty, we should have been awarded a penalty, but it was
not given.
“The referee does
not even have the decency to go and check VAR. All of a sudden, VAR was
switched off,” he said.
Despite their
mistreatment, Ncikazi said that the Simba players and staff would be given
great hospitality when they make the trip to South Africa.
“You should be
ashamed of yourselves as Africans,” he added.
“But listen to
this, we’re going to treat Simba with decency when they come. We’re going to
show them what it is to be a true African by giving them the best hospitality
and treating them like human beings.
“You don’t treat
visitors the way we get treated here. You should all be ashamed. We did not
deserve to lose; the officials caused us to lose.”
Simba will arrive in
South Africa this week to play the return fixture against the Sea Robbers at
Orlando Stadium on Sunday, 24 April.
Source by www.news24.com
