Ncikazi hits out at match officials again after Simba win

Mandla Ncikazi

Orlando Pirates co-coach Mandla Ncikazi once again criticized the match officiating after his side’s CAF Confederation Cup quarter-final second-leg win over Simba SC.

Pirates overturned a 1-0 deficit from the first leg in Tanzania as they edged Simba 1-0 over 90 minutes before winning the subsequent penalty shootout 4-3.

After the first leg, Ncikazi had slammed the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) for not working at times and was once again left astounded that it did not work at crucial moments in the second leg at Orlando Stadium, pointing to two incidents where he believes Simba had handballed in their own box.

And the former Golden Arrows mentor believes it would have been a travesty of justice if his side did not win the tie considering their dominance over the two legs.

“[It was] nerve-wracking, it’s really African football but I thought if there was one team that deserved to win today it was Orlando Pirates,” Ncikazi told the media.

“Not even to go to penalties, for the number of chances that we created. But I loved the composure from our team with everything that was happening.

“At some point, I saw the officials going to VAR, which was functioning, at some point, it didn’t function.

“I don’t know why from where I was standing, I also saw two handballs. I don’t know whether it’s a manipulation of the rule.

“But it would’ve been nice to refer the two handballs to VAR. Why it was not working, it’s still amazing in my eyes.”

https://bit.ly/3pEaOH5