Orlando Pirates FC head coach Mandla Mcikazi has blamed the referee for their defeat away to Simba SC in the first leg quarter final clash of the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup.
The Tanzanian side beat Orlando Pirates 1-0 in a match played on Sunday at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
Ghanaian import Bernard Morrison was fouled in the box by defender Happy Jele, and Shomary Kapombe converted the penalty after 68 minutes.
The match was handled by centre referee Haythem Guirat from Tunisia. He was assisted by Khalil Hassani (Tunisia) and Nigerian Samuel Pwadutakam. Egypt’s Ahmed Elghandour was the fourth official.
But Mcikazi during the presser made it clear that the referee won the match for Simba. “That was not a penalty because our player got the ball first. We also got a penalty and nothing was given without VAR used as the authorities had promised,” complained the coach.
He also blamed Simba for being hostile to them. “We need to change this mentality of treating people poorly. Football is supposed to bring people together and here all you get is hostility right from when you arrive,” added the coach.
Mcikazi wondered how football in the continent will be improved if certain funny things continue happening in Africa. “We are going to give Simba SC the best treatment and hospitality as visitors and not like the way they did to us,” added the Orlando Pirates coach.
Orlando Pirates will host the Tanzanian side in the return leg on April 24th in Johannesburg.
