Despite the Orlando Pirates fans still upset over the ‘Pirates is just a name’ comment by Durban City defender Siphamandla Ncanana, captain Nkosinathi Sibisi says they have moved on and the matter is now water under the bridge.
“For us, it’s another game. I think it’s also under the bridge. We don’t take that to heart or consideration, as much as it was painful to hear those words,” Sibisi said ahead of their much-anticipated MTN8 tie against City at the Orlando Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
‘We’re professionals’
“But I think we’re professionals; we’ve dealt with it and come Saturday, we will be looking forward to playing against a good Durban City side. We know their strengths and saw their game in the past weekend against Sekhukhune United [lost 1-0], and we’ll be well prepared for that.”
This is after the Durban City defender uttered the words that ‘Pirates is just a name’ during his post-match interview with SuperSport, after his man-of-the-match display in their goalless draw at the Orlando Stadium last season.
Ncanana’s comment also did not sit well with Pirates’ director of football, Mpumi Khoza, who expressed during the ‘Bucs Camp’ documentary that the controversial remarks caused him to have sleepless nights.
“We make people like Durban City come and say words like, ‘Pirates is just a name’ … We do that,” Khoza said.
“We give people the thinking that they can disrespect this badge and say, ‘Pirates is just a name’. That statement doesn’t make me sleep. For someone to have the guts to say that!”
Khoza now relaxed over the comments
Even so, Sibisi declared that Khoza is now more relaxed over the comments, because the team delivered the elusive league title in the end.
“I think the chairman is now much more relaxed and settled. More than anything, he wanted the league as bad as we did as players, and he expressed his emotions at the time.
“But we know what we must do [on Saturday]. As I have said, that comment is water under the bridge, and we are just looking forward to playing the game on Saturday and don’t take much into it,” Sibisi added.
Meanwhile, Ncanana has since clarified that he meant no harm nor disrespect with his statement, adding that he was misinterpreted.
“My statement was misinterpreted. When I said ‘Pirates is just a name’, I meant that when the referee blows the whistle, it is no longer about which team we are facing; it is 11v11, and whoever wants it more on the day will win,” he said
“But I do respect the Orlando Pirates as a big club, but when we get into the pitch, I motivate myself by saying that as a footballer, I will fight to ensure that another player wins over me, despite the team they are representing.”
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- Durban City defender Siphamandla Ncanana said "Pirates is just a name" after a goalless draw last season, a comment that upset Orlando Pirates fans and officials.
- Orlando Pirates captain Nkosinathi Sibisi stated that the team has moved on from the comment and are focused on their upcoming MTN8 match against Durban City.
- Pirates director of football Mpumi Khoza admitted the comment caused him sleepless nights but is now more relaxed after the team won the elusive league title.
- Sibisi emphasized that the controversial comment is "water under the bridge" and the team is concentrating on preparing for the game.
- Ncanana clarified that he meant no disrespect, explaining his comment was about competition on the field being based on performance rather than team identity.
Despite the
“For us, it's another game. I think it's also under the bridge. We don't take that to heart or consideration, as much as it was painful to hear those words,” Sibisi said ahead of their much-anticipated MTN8 tie against City at the
“But I think we're professionals; we've dealt with it and come Saturday, we will be looking forward to playing against a good Durban City side. We know their strengths and saw their game in the past weekend against
Ncanana’s comment also did not sit well with Pirates' director of football, Mpumi
“We make people like Durban City come and say words like, 'Pirates is just a name' ... We do that,”
“We give people the thinking that they can disrespect this badge and say, 'Pirates is just a name'.
Even so, Sibisi declared that
“I think the chairman is now much more relaxed and settled. More than anything, he wanted the league as bad as we did as players, and he expressed his emotions at the time.
“But we know what we must do [on Saturday]. As I have said, that comment is water under the bridge, and we are just looking forward to playing the game on Saturday and don't take much into it,” Sibisi added.
Meanwhile, Ncanana has since clarified that he meant no harm nor disrespect with his statement, adding that he was misinterpreted.
“My statement was misinterpreted. When I said ‘Pirates is just a name’, I meant that when the referee blows the whistle, it is no longer about which team we are facing; it is 11v11, and whoever wants it more on the day will win,” he said
“But I do respect the
Read More: Neo Rapoo happy to have finally donned the Pirates jersey
