Orlando Pirates Coach Mandla Ncikazi Pleased That VAR Will Be Available Against Simba FC in South Africa

• The use of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in Orlando Pirates' next match against Simba FC has calmed Mandla Ncikazi to the point of happiness
• Ncikazi grabbed continent-wide headlines after severely criticising the referee for not using it when expected to in the first leg that they lost 1-0 in Tanzania
• There were several dubious calls that did not go in Pirates' favour, something which set off the usually calm Buccaneers mentor

Orlando Pirates co-coach Mandla Ncikazi is a man with a reason to be happy after a big disappointment.

Ncikazi, a current lightning rod of controversy, stated that he is pleased that the Video Assistant Review (VAR) will be used this coming weekend in the Buccaneer's CAF Confederations Cup second leg against Simba FC at Orlando Stadium.

He went on the offensive in criticising officials for their disuse of VAR for various contentious incidents in Pirates 1-0 loss away in Tanzania on Sunday night. These included the Tunisian referee Haythem Guirat going against using the system to review Simba's goal, as well as what appeared to be a penalty to Pirates after a blatant foul on Siphesihle Ndlovu in the box.

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According to Soccer Laduma, Ncikazi raged:

“You have seen the game; it didn’t go the way we planned but we still have an opportunity in South Africa and VAR will be working! I will make sure that it works so that you treat other human beings in a correct way, not like animals, the way we have been treated here.”

This will be the first time VAR has ever been used in South Africa.

Speaking about his team's general performance, Ncikazi added:

“We were not as clinical, we didn’t take as many shots at goal, maybe that is an area that I think needs to improve. When we went wide, we didn’t make an attempt to pass into the box or create a scoring opportunity, that should improve.

"We still have an opportunity in our home country."

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Tensions are threatening to boil over between Simba SC and Orlando Pirates following their CAF Confederation Cup clash over the weekend.

Simba won the game 1-0 due to a penalty in the 68th minute, which proved to be a source of contention.

As reported by Sports Brief, Pirates co-coach Mandla Ncikazi launched a verbal tirade in the post-match conference.