ZESCO United head coach Mathews Ndhlovu has hit back at Khalil Ben Youssef’s criticism about the pitch at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
Chiefs walked away with a 1-0 victory, leaving the hosts rooted at the bottom of Group D with zero points, while Amakhosi moved to four.
Despite his side’s win, Ben Youssef had lamented the quality of the pitch, but Ndhlovu shrugged off the criticism, insisting both teams had to play on the same field.
“I think it is how you understand whatever pitch he was playing into, because at this stage where we are you are challenged at any pitch,” he said post match, as per SABC1.
“For them, it that was their excuse, we won’t even complain when we travel to their stadium. But football is played on the pitch. Unfortunately he came out like that.
“To us, we have been training on the same pitch. The result shouldn’t determine that, we play on the same pitch.
“We made a mistake, they utilized it. We couldn’t clear, they scored. Does the pitch favor mistakes? It’s how you apply yourselves.”