Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso slams ‘horrible’ Buffalo City pitch after Chippa United draw

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has criticised the state of the Buffalo City Municipality Stadium pitch after his side were held to a 1-1 draw by Chippa United in the South African Premiership.

The Brazilians rescued a point through Antonio Van Wyk, who scored late in the match, but Cardoso was left unhappy with the playing conditions and believes the state of the pitch affected the quality of football on display.

“This fans, they deserved something different. It’s like you invite them to go home and then you give them nothing to eat. Horrible, horrible conditions to play football,” said Cardoso after the game.

The Portuguese coach also compared South Africa’s footballing conditions with those in Morocco, arguing that the North African country has continued to improve its football infrastructure and playing environment.

“I remember that after the World Cup South Africa said that they would reduce the distance from Morocco, but no, not with these conditions.

“The distance from Morocco will increase more and more because Morocco understood that conditions to play football, bring better games, increase the level of the players and allows the national team to get better.”

Cardoso further suggested that there is significant work ahead for former Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane if he is involved in improving the country’s football development.

“There is a hell of a job for Mr Pitso Mosimane to do in the future, if the best teams play on these pitches. It’s not proper to play football,” he added.

The draw means Sundowns dropped points in their latest league outing, while Cardoso’s comments have once again raised concerns over the quality of playing surfaces used in top-flight South African football.