Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has challenged South African football administrators to raise the standards to those of Morocco after describing Buffalo City Stadium’s muddy surface as more suited to wrestling than football.
Cardoso was already unhappy after Sundowns’ Betway Premiership clash with Chippa United was moved from Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Monday because of the venue’s unavailability.
Following Sundowns’ late equaliser in the 1-1 draw, the Portuguese coach again questioned the decision to stage the match in Buffalo City, arguing that the conditions were not suitable for topflight football.
“People have to really think about the purpose, the intention, and the direction they want South African football to take. There’s a country in Africa that is completely detaching from the rest of the continent, and that is Morocco.
“Conditions have been created that side for players to perform at a very high level, and that is the direction football has to take in South Africa.
“There is something behind the policy that needs to be studied to see the level of failure. I know in other countries this will not be allowed. This is not a football pitch because it is so muddy, it’s better for wrestling.”
Cardoso added that the difficult conditions also contributed to the physical nature of the contest, with Chippa making full use of the surface.
The Sundowns coach believes the quality of facilities and playing surfaces needs to form part of a broader conversation about the direction of South African football.
His comparison with Morocco was particularly pointed, with Cardoso highlighting the North African country’s investment in creating conditions that allow players to perform at a higher level.
For the Sundowns coach, improving the quality of football cannot be separated from improving the environment in which it is played.
