Orlando Pirates Coach Mandla Ncikazi Dodges Heavy CAF Punishment After Controversial Comments

• Orlando Pirates co-coach Mandla Nickazi's controversial comments after last month's loss to Simba SC in the CAF Confederations Cup have got him into trouble
• Ncikazi was in a fiery moody following a contentious first leg of the quarterfinal tie in Dar es Salaam, criticising the officiating as well as the treatment of the visitors
• The hosts were not impressed in the slightest by this, laying a complaint with the continent's football governing body

Orlando Pirates co-coach Mandla Ncikazi has escaped serious punishment by CAF following comments he made last month after a Confederations Cup defeat to Simba SC.

The Buccaneers lost the first leg of their quarterfinal tie 1-0 against Tanzanian team Simba SC in Dar es Salaam. From refereeing decisions in the game to alleged shenanigans off it, Pirates felt that they were mistreated deliberately in East Africa.

This was apparent in Ncikazi's heated utterances at the post-match conference, saying according to Soccer Laduma:

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“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.”

These comments went down as well as one would expect with the hosts judging by Wekundu wa Msimbazi’s CEO Barbara Gonzalez, quoted by Kick Off firing back:

"If he wants to play mind games, I would like to ask him to keep my country out of his mouth and also my team. If he wants to play mind games, I would like to ask him to keep my country out of his mouth and also my team."

CAF has since released the outcome of the disciplinary proceedings and confirmed that a warning will be issued to the Bucs co-coach, in a letter issued by the football body's disciplinary board.

The statement read:

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"CAF received a complaint from Simba SC regarding some comments made by the Coach of Orlando Pirates during the post-match press conference. CAF has studied the complaint in question as well as the response received by Orlando Pirates club.

"CAF Disciplinary Board decided to address a warning letter to Mr. Mandla Ncikazi regarding his comments towards CAF."

Fiery Orlando Pirates coach Mandla Ncikazi fires more shots at Simba SC after Confederations Cup victory

Orlando Pirates co-coach Mandla Ncikazi continued his war of words with Simba SC.

As reported by Sports Brief, Pirates defeated Simba 4-3 on penalties after the CAF Confederations Cup quarterfinal tie ended 1-1.

Last month's defeat in Dar es Salaam left a bitter taste in Ncikazi's mouth, leading him to criticise the Tanzanian club, which the latter did not take kindly to.