AmaZulu FC’s head coach, Pablo Franco, isn’t pulling punches when it comes to voicing his displeasure over the PSL’s choice of venue for the Carling Knockout Cup quarter-finals.
Franco’s critique centres around the decision to stage a double-header showdown at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday, where Richards Bay FC and Orlando Pirates will kick off their match at 15h00, and AmaZulu will go head-to-head with Golden Arrows at 19h00.
In Franco’s eyes, this setup puts his squad at a distinct disadvantage. His primary concern? The quality of the pitch. The coach believes that by the time AmaZulu takes the field, the turf won’t be up to scratch, and he’s not pleased about it.
“I don’t like it. There is a clear disadvantage because we cannot use our facilities properly,” expressed Franco to the media. He went on to explain that, ideally, they would be playing on their home pitch, with the ability to train on it, but that possibility remains uncertain.
AmaZulu FC coach Pablo Martin believes the double header of the Carling Knockout quarterfinals will place his team at a disadvantage.#GFMSports #GagasiFM https://t.co/T69gV4X3Rd
— Gagasi FM (@gagasifm) November 1, 2023
Franco underlined, “It’s a huge advantage because we are camping in the venue, we have our lunch there, and our prematch meeting there. We need to change the scenario now, and let’s see what will happen in the dressing room because the kind of game we want to play won’t be possible due to the pitch’s probable subpar conditions.”
However, Franco is no stranger to adversity. He emphasized, “But it is what it is. In any of the circumstances, we are going to be competitive because we have already faced a lot of difficulties before with Pirates and Chippa United.”
Despite the inconvenience, Franco sees this as an opportunity for his team to make a solid run in the competition. “That’s a fact, and also a fact that we are performing really well and we are excited to play a quarter-final and an opportunity to reach the semifinal in the knockout competitions,” he stated.
Franco’s determination is evident as he added, “That means we have a good chance to win something. We are here for achievement, and we have a complete week to try to bring back some of the injured players, so we are looking forward to it.”
Franco’s unwavering resolve and his team’s desire to overcome adversity make this quarter-final match-up one to watch. The choice of venue might not be to their liking, but AmaZulu FC remain committed to making the most of their opportunity to reach the semifinals in the Carling Knockout Cup.
