A blunt Manqoba Mngqithi says he is not ashamed of Mamelodi Sundowns' so called 'benefits' because he's seen many teams benefit from similar match officiating errors during his decorated coaching career.
The Brazilians have come under heavy scrutiny in recent months over having 'benefited' from wrong calls made by match-officials, including a goal that should not have stood against Kaizer Chiefs before a string of incorrect calls from now-suspended Luxolo Badi during the two team's MTN8 semi-final second leg.
The last time the two met, Sundowns walked away 1-0 winners from a penalty awarded to The Brazilians when Siphelo Baloni was adjudged to have fouled Themba Zwane in the box.
The two teams are set to lock horns again in the MTN8 Final to be played at a sold-out Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.
Speaking at a lighthearted KZN MTN8 Final Breakfast event on Friday, Ncikazi said he hoped 'fairness prevail' this time around.
"I hope fairness prevails in football, it’s not like we don’t see what is happening, we all see but we pretend we don’t," Ncikazi said
3?? Matches played 4?? Goals scored Here’s how Sundowns reached the #MTN8 final ?? pic.twitter.com/7XQLeAOVF9
— SuperSport Football ?? (@SSFootball) October 6, 2023
In response, Mngqithi said it wasn’t the first time a team had 'benefited' through questionable calls from referees and called for patience over match officials.
"The fact that Pirates are the champions [of the MTN8] also speaks volumes that we are not playing anybody else. Coach Mandla [Ncikazi] has said that we are benefiting now, and who cannot be grateful for benefits?
"To be honest I’m not ashamed, because people (other teams) have benefited so much before hey. Since our time. This thing is called the wheel, it turns. So, when it turns to them (Pirates) I must appreciate it. Where must I complain?
"If you can say let's open the closet and see the trophies that people have won before, and maybe if there was a screen I was going to show you because I’ve got a lot of finals that were decided dubiously.
"I remember others decided with a handball, I remember others decided with a penalty, where Simba Marumo was hackled like this and there was nothing [said].
"But I don't want to go into much detail in this space, I’ve seen a lot of dubious decisions in football and we also accept that sometimes referees are human beings."
“One can tell that it’s a penalty.”"Sundowns have won this game when we were supposed to get a penalty."Molefi Ntseki's verdict ??#MTN8 pic.twitter.com/4DWPDYLzju
— SuperSport Football ?? (@SSFootball) September 23, 2023
Ncikazi will not be on the bench for Pirates, having been shown the red card against Sundowns and Mngqithi would not miss the opportunity to take another light-hearted jab at The Buccaneers' assistant coach.
"Mr Ncikazi, I would have loved to be with you on the pitch, but unfortunately because you are ill-disciplined, you don't respect officials, you are out," Mngqithi said.
"It would have been a nice opportunity to taste another final with you again and you witness me winning, just like you have seen that happening before."
The MTN8 Final will kick off at 18:00.
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