Staff Reporter.
Orlando Pirates co-coach Mandla Ncikazi has lamented the hospitality his side received in Tanzania following their CAF Confederation Cup quarter-final first-leg defeat to Simba FC on Sunday.
After managing a 0-0 draw in the first half of the tight contest, the Buccaneers gave away a penalty in the 68th minute which defender Shomari Kapombe calmly converted past Ghana goalkeeper Richard Ofori to hand the Wekundu wa Msimbazi a slim advantage heading into the return leg in South Africa this weekend.
“I don’t think we deserved to lose, why, as Africans, let’s change this mentality that when opponents come to Tanzania, you are so hostile to them you treat them like animals. It’s so inhumane, everywhere we go, we get treated so badly. This is a game of sport that you denied us. What you get here is hostility and abuse,” said the Bucs boss.
“Secondly, the rules say we are going to use VAR, but VAR was not used. The penalty that Simba got is not a penalty because our defender got to the ball first, secondly, Ndlovu, our player, before Simba got a penalty we got a penalty. But it was not given. The referee didn’t have the decency to check VAR (during the Ndlovu incident).”
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.
Simba coach Pablo Franco on the other side was happy that his side didn’t concede a goal at home, but says they are expecting a tough game in the second leg in South Africa.
“Of course when you are playing in the first leg, you win the game and you don’t concede goals is a good advantage. But we know how difficult it is in the African continent to play away. We also know the quality of our opponents, Pirates are a great team. We know their performance at home is going to be better,” said the Simba coach.
Simba will arrive in South Africa this week to play the return fixture against the Sea Robbers at Orlando Stadium on Sunday, 24 April.
Meanwhile Pirates fans have taken to their social media accounts to express their anger and frustration and many of them have maintained for the team to make progress in future assignments, they should get rid of Ncikazi and his co-coach Fadlu Davids.