Kaizer Chiefs head coach Khalil Youssef has criticised the state of the Levy Mwanawansa Stadium pitch in Ndola, saying his side was unable to play their usual short-passing football during Sunday’s CAF Confederation Cup group-stage match against Zesco United because of the poor surface.

Chiefs edged Zesco United 1-0 thanks to Pule Mmodi’s first-minute strike, but Youssef said the match was not pleasant to watch due to the condition of the pitch.

“It wasn’t a great game to watch, it was a physical one for us. The target was three points. We didn’t come to play great football to enjoy it,” he said.

“The pitch made it difficult for us. Maybe the philosophy of Zesco United is to play long balls, but for us, we are more of a team that tries to play short passes to build up and progress. Unfortunately, with the pitch today, it was difficult to play our football.”

Responding to the criticism, Zesco United head coach Mathews Ndlovu said teams must be prepared to adapt regardless of pitch conditions.

“At this stage where we are, you are forced, or rather challenged, to play on any pitch. So for them, if that was their excuse, then we won’t even complain if we travel to their stadium. But football has been played on the pitch, so unfortunately it came out like that,” Ndlovu said.

“But for us, yes, we’ve been training on the same pitch, but the result shouldn’t be determined by that because we play on the same surface. We made a mistake, they utilised it, and we couldn’t clear the ball. Does the pitch favour mistakes? It’s how you apply yourself.”

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