Rabat – Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso criticized the poor pitch conditions following a 1–1 draw with Chippa United, urging South Africa to follow Morocco’s lead in building better stadiums.
Speaking during the post-match press conference, the Portuguese manager shared a clear vision for how South African football can grow.
“People really need to think about the purpose, goal, and direction they want South African football to take. There is a country in Africa that is completely separating itself from the rest of the continent, and that is Morocco,” Cardoso said.
Cardoso pointed to Morocco’s commitment to quality facilities as the standard South African football must follow.
“The right conditions have been created there for players to perform at a very high level, and that is the direction South African football needs to take,” he added.
The Portuguese tactician also leveled sharp criticism at the unplayable condition of the Buffalo City Stadium pitch, and called for an investigation into how such poor standards are tolerated.
“There is something behind this policy that needs to be examined to understand the scale of the failure. I know this wouldn’t be allowed in other countries. This isn’t a pitch for football because it’s too muddy; it’s actually better suited for wrestling,” he explained.
Cardoso said the poor playing surface made the match more physical, noting that Chippa United took full advantage of the muddy pitch conditions.
The Sundowns boss believes that stadium quality and pitch standards must become part of a broader discussion about the future of South African football.
