Miguel Cardoso has voiced his frustration over the playing surface at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, claiming it does not meet the level needed for Mamelodi Sundowns to perform at their best.
The Portuguese tactician was speaking to the media shortly after the match against Sekhukhune United, where his side secured a 3–1 victory in the Betway Premiership.
Cardoso said that to display the quality of football his squad truly possesses, Sundowns must find a permanent solution for their home matches.
He added that they cannot expect to win a competition like the CAF Champions League if they continue playing on a pitch like the one at Loftus Versfeld Stadium.
“I don’t know if you understand but this pitch is in very bad condition, very bad,” said Cardoso.
“It’s horrible to play a match like this [league], it’s mud, purely mud, we’re stepping on mud. And that touches also the quality of the game.
“Sundowns have to find a solution that can be permanent regarding the venue where we can play. We cannot expect a team to win the Champions League, playing in a pitch like this. It’s not in the level [we need].
“That will also not help us in our home matches because indeed today was catastrophic. We have to be strong and resist all these things.
“It’s more easy to play when we play at FNB [Stadium], it’s more easy to play when we play in Durban [Moses Mabhida Stadium].
“It’s more difficult easier when we play in pitches that allow good quality high level of players to show the best they have because in pitches like this, we stay with 80% of our [playing] capacity or less.”
Did you know that the iDiski Times Digital Newspaper is completely free! Download it now by clicking the button below or fill in the form to have it sent to you every week.
