Cardoso questions Chippa United venue switch ahead of Sundowns clash

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso says Chippa United’s decision to move their Betway Premiership match from Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium to Buffalo City Stadium has disrupted his preparations and could encourage suspicion.

The two teams are due to meet on 12 September, but Chippa United applied to move the fixture to Buffalo City Stadium in KuGompo, around 289 kilometres from the original venue. The change was approved by the League after Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium reportedly failed a PSL inspection because of concerns about the condition and maintenance of its playing surface.

Cardoso is also preparing Sundowns for their FIFA Intercontinental Cup match against Saudi Arabian side Al Ahli on 19 September. He said the change of venue had affected a schedule that was designed to give his players additional recovery time before that fixture.

Speaking after Sundowns’ 3-0 victory over Siwelele at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Cardoso said the alteration had interfered with both the team’s travel plans and its preparation.

“I just want you to understand that we had a trip planned to fly to (Port Elizabeth). I just want you to understand that the change of plans disrupts clearly our preparation for the match,” he said.

The Portuguese coach explained that he had intended to give his squad two days off, before allowing four days of preparation for the intercontinental match.

“It means that by allowing this change of venue or not putting us on the (initial) venue, we are not given the right conditions to prepare for the match. I had planned to give my players two days off and they would have four days of preparation for the intercontinental match,” Cardoso said.

He questioned why clubs could appear to choose different venues depending on their opponents, arguing that teams should play at the grounds identified at the start of the season.

“I don’t understand why because it’s not like that anywhere (else), the club at the beginning of the season says, ‘This is my pitch’ and you don’t change according to your interests. You don’t put one team to play against you on one pitch, take another one to another pitch,” he said.

Cardoso added that venue changes of this nature could lead people to question the motives behind them, even if he was not making a direct accusation.

“You know when these kinds of conditions are created, you allow people to be suspicious, you take one team here, the other one there. Why do you do that?” he said.

He compared the situation with Portugal, where Porto, Benfica and Sporting each play at their own established stadiums, regardless of the weather.

“When you go to Portugal, there are no two stadiums. Porto plays in their own stadium, Benfica plays in their own stadium, Sporting plays in their own stadium and the stadiums are already ready, rain, thunderstorms, already ready,” Cardoso said.

“If we don’t move in that direction, suspicion will always be raised, not by me but people can think. Why are you making that question to me? Because you’re also suspicious,” he added.