South Africa football head coach Ephraim Mashaba courted controversy on Monday by refusing to answer questions in any other language other than his native Zulu as a mark of protest against the treatment meted out to his country’s journalists by Algeria. Algeria earlier conducted a press conference in Arabic and French, leaving the English-speaking South African journalists helpless ahead of their country’s Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) match later Monday.
Algerian captain Madjid Bougherra, during the press meet, spoke in Arabic without a translator and the assembled journalists had difficulty deciphering what he said. Taking a cue from them, Mashaba refused to speak in English and replied to questions only in Zulu. “This is the Africa Cup of Nations and I speak the language I understand,” Mashaba was quoted as saying by sport24.co.za on Monday.
Algerian captain Madjid Bougherra, during the press meet, spoke in Arabic without a translator and the assembled journalists had difficulty deciphering what he said. Taking a cue from them, Mashaba refused to speak in English and replied to questions only in Zulu. “This is the Africa Cup of Nations and I speak the language I understand,” Mashaba was quoted as saying by sport24.co.za on Monday.