Ncanana says Pirates remarks were misunderstood before MTN8 quarter-final

Durban City captain Siphamandla Ncanana has sought to defuse the controversy surrounding comments he made about Orlando Pirates, saying his words were taken out of context and were not intended to show disrespect towards one of South Africa’s biggest clubs.

Ncanana drew criticism from Pirates supporters after speaking following his Man of the Match display in Durban City’s goalless draw at Orlando Amstel Arena in May.

At the time, the defender said that, for him, “Pirates is just a name”. The remark quickly attracted attention and prompted a backlash, with the comments later featuring in Orlando Pirates’ documentary, Bucs Camp: We Fight Till The End.

In the documentary, Pirates Director of Football Mpumi Khoza expressed his displeasure at what Ncanana had said.

The Durban City captain has now attempted to clarify the meaning behind his remarks, insisting they were not motivated by hostility towards the Buccaneers and did not reflect a lack of respect for the club.

“What I can say is, maybe it was misinterpreted, I was not trying to be disrespectful or… I have something against Pirates, we all know Pirates is a big club in South African football,” said Ncanana.

His explanation comes as Durban City prepare to return to the Amstel Arena, where they will face Orlando Pirates again this weekend in the quarter-final of the MTN8.

Ncanana said the original comment was intended to underline the nature of football once a match begins, rather than question the importance or reputation of Orlando Pirates.

“Once the referee blows the whistle, it’s 11 v 11, it’s not about Pirates or anyone – I was not trying to be disrespectful,” he concluded.

The two clubs previously met at the same venue in May, when Durban City held Pirates to a 0-0 draw. Ncanana’s performance in that match earned him the Man of the Match award, but his post-match comments became the main talking point after the final whistle.

His latest remarks are an attempt to place those comments in their intended competitive context before the sides meet again in the knockout stages of the MTN8.

While Ncanana acknowledged Orlando Pirates’ standing in South African football, he maintained that the identity and reputation of a club do not alter the contest once play begins. In his view, the match is decided by the 11 players on each side after the referee starts proceedings.

Durban City will now travel to the Amstel Arena for a second meeting with the Buccaneers, with a place in the MTN8 semi-finals at stake. The fixture provides Ncanana with an immediate opportunity to move beyond the controversy while competing against the club whose supporters reacted strongly to his earlier remarks.