Orlando Pirates have clarified why Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos was not allowed to enter Orlando Stadium and were not impressed with the coach’s mentioning of Dr. Irvin Khoza.
Broos wanted to attend Saturday’s game between the Buccaneers and Mamelodi Sundowns but to his surprise was turned down at the gate, despite having an accreditation.
The Premier Soccer League have since apologised for the incident, confirming the mistake was on their side because they did not inform Pirates of Broos’ attendance.
Pirates’ administrative officer Floyd Mbele has now told the story from the club’s point of view, insisting COVID-19 protocols didn’t allow them to make an exception for Broos.
“Coach Hugo Broos is correct, he was turned away,” Mbele said on the Ultimate Sport Show.
“I think it’s important to understand the circumstances. Given the nature where we find professional football, there are protocols that need to be followed to attend matches.
“You will recall that football comes from a history, not so long ago, where the levels that have been promulgated by the department of health and government, in terms of return to play, there were certain elements that were put in, in terms of our return to play.
“Having said that, the National Soccer League also was able to put in requirements for teams to be able to manage in terms of numbers of people that can be at stadiums on match day, the number is at 160.
“On this occasion, Orlando Pirates Football Club did not have any information about the coach coming.
“With that it becomes problematic, because when planning goes ahead, there is a requirement that anybody that is there – one: got accreditation and two: their name is on the list.
“Coach did have an accreditation but was not on the list. And on this basis and purely as a principle, the club declined for him to able to access Orlando Stadium.
“It’s just a principle, it could’ve happened to anybody. It had nothing to do with Hugo Broos, it was simply a principle.”
Mbele, though, also stated that he was not happy with Broos’ way of articulating his disappointment, saying there was no need to mention Dr. Irvin Khoza, who had nothing to do with the incident.
“I think it was a little bit distasteful, though, when at his press conference he was putting up the chairman Dr. Irvin Khoza’s name, because it is his club and he is the vice-president,” Mbele added.
“This is purely an administrative function and has got nothing to do with the chairman.
“I think it’s in bad taste and I think that comment is regrettable.”
