CAF CL: Kaizer Chiefs unhappy with pitch despite vital win over ZESCO

Kaizer Chiefs needed an early strike by Pule Mmodi to beat their hosts ZESCO United in Group D of the CAF Confederation Cup.

It was a massive win for the Glamour Boys, who are now third with four points, just one behind Zamalek SC, who drew with Al Masry last weekend. The latter have collected seven points so far, while Timu ya Ziko are at the bottom, having lost all their outings so far.

Despite the victory, Chiefs co-coach Khalil Ben Youssef was not impressed with the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium’s pitch.

It was difficult to play our football

“The pitch made it difficult for us. Maybe it’s easier for ZESCO United, who play long balls, for us, we play a technical game, we play short passes, we make the progression with short passes,” he said in his post-match interview.

“Unfortunately, today with this pitch it was difficult to play our football, so we were playing another football. We are not a physical team; we are a technical team. That made it more difficult for us; it was only long balls.

“I have to say congratulations to the players. We said we come for three points, we don’t come to play, we come to win. That’s why I have to say congratulations to the players for how they played, how they fight. They deserve it,” Ben Youssef added.

We didn’t come to play beautiful football

The tactician, however, was delighted with the fact that the players ultimately did everything to get maximum points in Group D.

“It was a physical game. For us, the target, we came for three points, we didn’t come to play great football or to enjoy, we came for three points,” Ben Khalil continued.

“I think we deserve to win this game, we deserve the three points,” he concluded.

Amakhosi are scheduled to play Marumo Gallants in the Premier Soccer League on Wednesday before playing ZESCO United on Sunday in the CAF Confederation Cup fixture.