Kaizer Chiefs head coach Fernando Da Cruz has criticised the pitch condition at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium for not allowing his side to carry out their game model.
Chiefs went 1-0 down in the second preliminary round first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup in Ndola, extending their winless streak to six matches in all competitions.
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Amakhosi are now under pressure to overturn the result in the second leg at home to give themselves a chance at qualifying for the group stage for a second season in a row.
Da Cruz said the conditions of the pitch in Zambia weren’t the best for Chiefs however they adapted as the game continued.
“About the pitch, it was not the field for our advantage,” said Da Cruz.
“It was not a very good field for us to develop our game model. But we must adapt. We must play with the condition. The players adapted very well about the condition it’s not a problem.”
In terms of the game itself, the coach felt his side was better prepared for their opponents and controlled things for the majority of the game.
“No, we were prepared,” added Da Cruz.
“We were not surprised during the game. We knew that they play long, they run a lot, they make a lot of crosses with a lot of energy.
“We conceded one goal on one corner, but for the rest of the game, we controlled the match.”