Orlando Pirates beat Chippa United 3-1 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium to reach the Nedbank Cup final.
This meant that Pirates reached the Nedbank Cup final for a second consecutive season under coach Jose Riveiro.
The stage was set in Gqeberha, with the two sides playing in front of a sold out crowd. It would be Pirates who would lift the roof with a goal in just the fourth minute. A well taken left-footed free kick saw Kabelo Dlamini grant the visitors lift off. Still in the first half, Dlamini would complete his brace to hand the Buccaneers a commanding 2-0 lead at half time.
Pirates beat Chippa to advance to Nedbank Cup final
Chippa came back looking like a much more determined side in the second stanza, and eventually pulled on back. The hosts would threaten to make a game of the semifinal with Elmo Kambindu’s goal. Just when the Chilli Boys were pushing for an equaliser, they would concede at the other end. Tapelo Xoki would put the game beyond doubt as he slid in for a third goal.
With that goal Pirates earned themselves an opportunity to defend their Nedbank Cup crown. But Chippa co-coach Kwanele Kopo was far from impressed by his opposite number’s conduct during the game.
Kopo furious with Riveiro
“I have a lot of respect for Orlando Pirates, but the language used towards us by the coach today was shocking, absolutely shocking. Not needed in football. [He] can’t even look me in the eye after the game, or shake a hand. He was inciting Eva [Nga] the whole game, that’s why Eva got sent off. I know, Pirates wanted to defend the trophy and I respect the club, I respect the officials of the club. But I think people can present themselves better. But it’s bad, even the fourth official could hear a coach use abusive language against us and they just keep quiet, but it’s okay we move on. We are all coaches, we know when people are under pressure. But we don’t want to say certain things because we want to be looked bad at. It’s not nice.” Said Kopo as per iDiskiTimes
He went on further to explain why he was triggered by Riveiro’s and the Pirates bench.
“Some of us grew up in a difficult time in South Africa, and when you consistently use a second language towards us, it riles us up. That’s the disappointing part for me. And that’s what makes us angry, even for the referees that when people of a certain colour or language are abusive, it seems like it’s acceptable in South Africa and I think we need to overcome that.” Said Kopo.
Following the win against Chippa, Pirates will wait to see who they face in the Nedbank Cup final. The second semifinal is set to be between Stellenbosch FC and Mamelodi Sundowns on Sunday.
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