Just in: Orlando Pirates coach handed official WARNING by CAF!

Orlando Pirates co-coach Mandla Ncikazi has been handed a warning by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for his remarks after a CAF Confederation Cup encounter in April.

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CAF was responding to Simba SC’s official complaint regarding the ‘unsporting’ behaviour by the Buccaneers’ tactician following the Tanzanian side’s 1-0 win over the Soweto giants in their CAF Confederation Cup quarter-final first leg clash in Tanzania.

Ncikazi pulled no punches in his post-match conference, claiming that Orlando Pirates were mistreated by their hosts during their short stay in the East Africa country.

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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,” he added.

Simba SC CEO Barbara Gonzalez didn’t take the remarks lightly and lodged a complaint as a representative of the club.

CAF acknowledged Simba SC’s grievance and opted to hand down a warning to Ncikazi.

The disciplinary hearing was chaired by South African Raymond Hack.

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The two-legged tie ended 1-1 on aggregate after Orlando Pirates won the return leg at Orlando Stadium 1-0.

The Buccaneers then prevailed 4-3 on penalties to progress to the semi-finals where they beat Libyan side Al Ahly Tripoli 2-1 over two legs to reach the final.

Orlando Pirates will take on Morocco’s RS Berkane on Friday, 20 May in the CAF Confederation Cup final in Nigeria.

Kick-off is at 21:00 (SA time).

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CAF’S STATEMENT REGARDING MANDLA NCIKAZI

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.

CONSIDERED:
I. CAF´s competence to the Case
Pursuant to articles 40, 42 and 57 of the CAF Statutes, as well as article 3 and 87 of the CAF Disciplinary Code, the CAF Statutes, Disciplinary Code and Regulations are applicable to this
procedure.
The competence of the CAF Disciplinary Board results from the following articles:

Pursuant to article 10 of CAF disciplinary code “the disciplinary Board is authorized to sanction any breach of CAF Regulations which does not come under the jurisdiction of another body of the Confederation”.

Article 3 of the CAF Disciplinary Code provides that “By participation in the various CAF competitions, all the persons referred to in article 2 para 2 above acknowledge and accept that they are bound by this code inclusive of any regulations relating to any specific CAF competitions as well as any directives issued by the CAF Secretariat on behalf of the CAF Executive Committee, inclusive of the Laws of the Game as issued by the International Football Association Board.

In the present case, and in accordance with the aforementioned articles of CAF Disciplinary Code, the CAF Disciplinary Board is competent to deal with the case;

II. Relevant provisions to the Case
The following relevant provisions apply to the case at hand.
Pursuant to Article 82 of CAF disciplinary code “National associations, clubs, officials and members, as well as their players, shall respect the principles of loyalty, integrity, sportsmanship and ethics”.

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

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