Durban City FC captain Siphamandla Ncanana has set the record straight about the remarks he made against Orlando Pirates during their penultimate league match of last season at Orlando.
Ncanana received backlash from Bucs supporters after saying ‘Pirates is just a name’ during a post-match interview following a goalless draw between the two sides in May.
This statement did not sit down well with the Ghost, who felt he had been disrespectful towards their club’s rich history and success in South African football.
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The Citizens are set to travel to Soweto to face the Soweto giants in an MTN8 quarterfinal at the Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday.
Ncanana is looking forward to the trip to Johannesburg, where is expected to meet the opposition’s supporters.
“I think maybe they misinterpreted my statement. It was not that I was disrespectful or have something against Pirates,” said Ncanana during the MTN 8 launch held in Randburg on Wednesday evening.
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“We all know Pirates is a big team in South Africa, in South African football. What I can say is that once the referee blows the whistle, it is 11 v 11. It’s not about Pirates."
“I was not disrespectful, I was just saying we need to be strong (against Pirates),” he added.
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Durban City will look be eager to bounce back to winning ways after suffering a 1-0 defeat to Sekhukhune United in their Betway Premiership season opener in Limpopo last weekend.