After their loss to Orlando Pirates, Cape Town City Head Coach Jan Olde Riekerink says he is pleased they are staying in Gauteng ahead of their game against SuperSport United this weekend.
The Dutch mentor feels that the change in altitude may have had an effect on his team, so he will get to see if that theory is correct as they stay on in preparation of the game.
Olde Riekerink says though that he is not making excuses for the goals conceded, and complimented the quality of Pirates play as they scored twice in the opening five minutes of the 2-0 win on Tuesday.
“Yeah, no, correct. I must say. and I mean, I’m almost one and a half year here, and I remember also last year, we played a game against Kaizer Chiefs that I thought after five minutes, this is not my team and I don’t know if that has to do with the altitude,” Olde Riekerink said in the post match presser.
“I saw also in the beginning that a lot of the players struggle, they were very quickly tired, it has nothing to do with the goals (conceded) because I think those were tactical mistakes, no pressure on the ball and the ball behind our defense, I think it’s also the quality of Pirates.”
“But we were also not in perfect physical shape. So that’s something I’m happy that we stay here. So then SuperSport will be a test if that’s also a right conclusion.
Second-placed SuperSport host sixth-placed City at the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium on Saturday. Kick off is scheduled for 5pm.
