Photo Courtesy Orlando Pirates.
A day after being hammered 4-1 by rivals Mamelodi Sundowns in a Betway Premiership fixture, Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro has blasted the pitch condition at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria.
While accepting that he was not blaming the defeat on the pitch condition, Riveiro revealed that it was a pity that the game between Pirates and Sundowns was allowed to be played there.
“It’s a pity that this game must be played in this field because it’s not helping anybody. It’s not helping the game, the football, or the risk of injuries,” Riveiro said as quoted by FARPost.
“Every single action there is a high risk of injuries for both teams. Not for a second you must take this comment like we lost this game because of the field. Not even close. But it’s true that the game was played in very difficult conditions for Sundowns and Pirates as well.”
He continued about the pitch: “Whatever I say about the pitch, it’s going to be the headlines on social media, and I don’t want to give you that chance to try to show you that I am justifying what happened on the field. It was the same field for Sundowns.
“Remember what I said before, I think they managed to find a way to win the game despite the circumstances that this game was played in. Now you have the job as journalists as you were here watching the game. But at the same time, I have to say that I am sure that Sundowns is not happy with the field.”
The defeat left Pirates nine points behind table leaders Sundowns, but they still have one game in hand.
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