Menzi Magubane
Furious Orlando Pirates co-coach Mandla Ncikazi slammed Simba football club for treating them like “animals” in Tanzania.
The Buccaneers lost 1-0 to Simba in the CAF Confederation Cup first leg on Sunday night but Ncikazi was angered by the poor hospitality they received from the Tanzanians.
“Why do Africans do this to other Africans?” Ncikazi asked after the match at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
“One as Africans, let’s change this mentality that when opponents come to Tanzania, you are so hostile to them that you treat them like animals, so inhumane, everywhere you go, we are treated so badly. This is a game of sport that should unite us.
“The treatment that we got from the stadium, the hotel and the airport, why do you do this as Africans to other Africans? Are we going to improve the football in the continent [if this happens] and you are all proud that Simba won, they did not win. The referee made them win.”
The former Golden Arrows coach said the Tanzanians should be ashamed of themselves.
“Do you really think the hostility we got when we came here when Simba came to South Africa should we treat them that way? You should be ashamed of yourselves as Africans, but listen to this. We are going to treat Simba with decency when they come.
“We will 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 got treated here, you should all be ashamed. We did not deserve to lose. The officials caused us to lose,” added Ncikazi.
Ncikazi feels the penalty that was awarded to Simba was dubious after captain Happy Jele was judged to have committed a foul. He also feels that the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) was supposed to be used as they were told but it wasn’t present.
The return leg will be held at Orlando Stadium in Soweto at 6pm on Sunday where Ncikazi will be expecting a better performance from his side.
Image source: @TimesLIVE
