A steamed up Mandla Ncikazi asked as he condemned Orlando Pirates’ treatment in the 1-0 defeat to Simba in the first leg of the Caf Confederation Cup quarterfinal clash at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Sunday night.
Ncikazi, who was evidently angered by the poor hospitality and Spartan conditions imposed on Pirates, said Simba should be ashamed of themselves.
Shomari Kapombe ensured Simba sealed a 1-0 victory with a second-half goal from the penalty spot. The dubious penalty was awarded after Happy Jele committed a foul in the area.
“One as Africans, let’s change this mentality that when opponents come to Tanzania, you so hostile to them that you treat them like animals, so inhumane, everywhere you go, we treated so badly. This is a game of sport that should unite us,” said Ncikazi.
“But what you get is hostility and abuse. Secondly, the rules are saying we’re 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.
“Thirdly, [Siphesihle]Ndlovu, our player, before Simba got the penalty, we got the penalty, but it wasn’t given. The referee doesn’t have the decency to check the VAR. All of a sudden, the VAR was switched off.”
The Bucs co-coach added: “Do you really think the hostility we got when we came here when Simba comes to South Africa should we treat them that way?
“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, and we are all proud that Simba won, they did not win. The referee made them win.
“You should be ashamed of yourselves as Africans, but listen to this. We’re 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.
