DSTV Premiership side Orlando Pirates have broken their silence on the ongoing feud between coach Mandla Ncikazi and Malawian striker Frank “Gabadinho” Mhango.
Ncikazi’s made atrocious sentiments about the Afcon tournament being less competitive compared to the South African league after being asked to explain his continued sidelining of Mhango.
As the battle continues between the coach and player, Orlando Pirates clarified on why the club will not ask the manager to field the lethal Mhango.
“A fundamental decision is that the coaches work with the players and the decision of the coaches is final. And we have to respect that,” Pirates’ administrative manager Floyd Mbele said.
“If you recall, Mhango was not a regular before AFCON. Coach Mandla [Ncikazi] explained and addressed the issue but the media was too quick to crucify and criticize him before they could interpret what he was saying.
“The media didn’t interpret what Mandla said, they just made the headlines,” Mbele continued.
“He explained that the other three PSL players who played at CAN were not regulars at their clubs and that the competition in PSL teams might be more important than the competition in some CAN teams.“
“There is no management problem with the player, it’s just the technical staff and the coaches and the player has to fight for his position just like the other players in the team,” he said.
“If we tell the coach to play a certain player, we will be accused of interference. Let the coaches decide.”
