Polokwane – Congo-Brazzaville coach Claude Le Roy has accused South African coach Shakes Mashaba of making an obscene gesture following their 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Polokwane on Wednesday night.
Le Roy, who was made to share the spoils of a goalless draw at Peter Mokaba Stadium, threatened to report Mashaba to Fifa and the Confederations of African Football (Caf) for a gesture he could not repeat “in front of ladies”.
“I’m shocked by the behaviour of the head coach of Bafana Bafana. At the end of the game, he showed me with his hand,” Le Roy said at the post-match media conference.
“I can tell you it’s the first time in my life of coaching, I’ve been coaching for 34 years.
“We have a photo from one of our photographers. I think Fifa and Caf will receive this photo because from an educator (coach) you cannot accept that in terms of behaviour.”
It is alleged that Mashaba made the gesture shortly after the final whistle had sounded, before shaking hands with Le Roy.
“It's the first time. Some people saw that. I couldn’t believe it was possible at our level, at international level,” Le Roy added.
“It’s unbelievable. I saw that in a country where I was so proud to be here today. I was in charge of the world team for the 89th birthday of president Mandela in Cape Town and it was one of the biggest moments in my career.
“When I see that, from somebody who I cannot call a coach because he does not deserve this nomination.”
On Tuesday, at Congo’s final training session, Le Roy accused Mashaba of lacking humility, following comments by the Bafana coach.
Le Roy reacted angrily to Mashaba's thoughts on Congo goalkeeper Chancel Massa.
Mashaba singled out the shot-stopper as the weak link in the Congo line-up ahead of their meeting in Pointe Noire last weekend.
South Africa won the match 2-0.
Asked whether Mashaba could have made the gesture in retaliation to Le Roy’s thoughts on Tuesday, the Congo coach disagreed.
“I was saying something very simple. Football is a school of humility. When you win, you have to be more humble than when you lose,” he said.
“I’ve won a lot in my career, a lot of big competitions and I never said anything. In football you always have to stay humble, not to speak like the qualification was already there.
“You have to finish the games, you have to finish everything to arrive. Football is difficult.”
Le Roy was particularly disappointed that Wednesday’s incident came from the national coach of South Africa, a country he said he loved.
“I come from a family that fought a lot for independence in Africa and I know about the battle in this country.
“This country is something very important for me.”
Meanwhile, Mashaba denied making the gesture, vehemently refuting the incident ever happened.
“Unfortunately I can’t comment, if I knew what is ‘something’ then I’ll comment,” Mashaba said shortly after Le Roy’s conference.
“I don’t know what I did. I would have loved him to have said (to me) so that I could comment. I know nothing about that.
“Let him come with the pictures and let’s see what he’s talking about.”
Mashaba said he gave Le Roy an expensive South African pendant before the game started and also shook his hand.
“Full-time, I never even came close to that man. I don’t know what he’s saying.” – Sapa