Orlando Pirates Coach Mandla Ncikazi Apologises to CAF, but Continues War of Words With Simba SC

• Orlando Pirates co-coach Mandla Ncikazi confirmed that he received CAF's letter warning him about his conduct following controversial comments he made
• Ncikazi said that he responded to the continent's football governing body, apologising for using the wrong platform to criticise Simba SC for alleged mistreatment in Tanzania
• However, he stopped short of apologising to the Tanzanian side, making it very clear that he wouldn't let sleeping dogs lie as far as they were concerned

Orlando Pirates co-coach Mandla Ncikazi has given the most middling response to running afoul of the football authorities.

Ncikazi received a warning from CAF following utterances he made about the team's alleged mistreatment by Simba SC and others during the week of a Confederation Cup quarterfinal first leg match - which they controversially lost 1-0 - in Dar es Salaam.

According to The Citizen, Ncikazi went on the offensive, claiming that the visitors had 'been treated like animals'. Simba hit back immediately, laying a formal complaint with Africa's football governing body, as reported by Soccer Laduma.

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Now, according to another Soccer Laduma report, he confirmed he had received the warning letter, acknowledging his mistake. He said:

“I think CAF understood what was in the letter of my response. I apologised to CAF; maybe the utterances were uttered on the wrong platform; we could have channelled the utterances differently. For what I said and the platform and the way I said that for that one, I apologise.”

Naturally, he had to aim an open dig at the Tanzanians, saying:

“Maybe to say them the way I did and in the platform that I used was not the correct one, and that was my apology but not for another incident that really takes place in Africa; there is no apology."

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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.

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As reported by Sports Brief, 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.