JOHANNESBURG - Kaizer Chiefs coach Giovanni Solinas slammed the pitch after losing to Lamontville Golden Arrows this weekend in an Absa Premiership tussle.
Amakhosi lost 2-1 against Arrows at Princess Magogo Stadium in KwaMashu. Limbikani Mzava was the hero netting two penalties for Abafana Bes’thende. Leonardo Castro was on the scoresheet for Amakhosi.
The pressure is piling on the embattled Solinas. Chiefs have now lost four times in the league. They are five points behind the leaders, Orlando Pirates.
“The boys fought for 90 minutes. The pitch was terrible. I don’t remember in South Africa playing on a pitch like this. I’ve coached Free State Stars but I don’t remember playing on a terrible pitch like this,” Solinas said.
The pitch at Princess Magogo recently hosted the music concert and that really damaged the field.
Chiefs have struggled to hit the high notes this season under the Italian boss.
Godfrey Walusimbi of Kaizer Chiefs and Siboniso Conco of Golden Arrows during the Absa Premiership 2018/19 game on Saturday. Photo: Howard Cleland/BackpagePix
“We didn’t deserve to lose this game. If you analyse it (correctly), we didn’t deserve to lose but this is football. Did you watch the game? Did the opponent dominate? Check the ball possession, corner kicks and how many chances we created. They were defending for 90 minutes. They were playing on the counter-attack. We knew they have the fast players,” he added.
Solinas continued to tinker with his defence this past weekend. The Italian went for the combination of Eric Mathoho and Teenage Hadebe. Unfortunately both players conceded penalties. Siyabonga Ngezana and Mario Booysen didn’t even make the bench following they poor showing against Pirates last week.
“I will continue to work hard and never give up. I don’t want to talk about my central defenders. We win together and we lose together. We have played everybody. We started the league with Eric Mathoho and Daniel Cardoso and then Cardoso and Siya (Ngezana). We also played Siya and Booysen. Now, it is Mathoho and Teenage. We have played everybody,” Solinas elaborated.
Chiefs showed some glimpses of their brilliance midweek thumping Zimamoto of Zanzibar 4-0 in the opening match of the CAF Confederation Cup.
Kabelo Mahlasela of Kaizer Chiefs goes past Knox Mutizwa of Golden Arrows during the Absa Premiership 2018/19 match on Saturday. Photo: Howard Cleland/BackpagePix
“The difference between our performance on Wednesday and today is the pitch. The pitch was good in Port Elizabeth. Here, it is difficult to play football. The opposition in the PSL is also more strong. Arrows are stronger than Zimamoto. There are no easy games in PSL. We dominated the game completely. We created the chances. They got two penalties and we lost the game," Solinas explained.
Their results and the football they are playing won't fill their fans with hope that they will win a trophy this season. It is December but Solinas is yet to identify his best 11. Time is running out for the Italian. Amakhosi now travel to Zinzabar where they will face Zimamoto in the second leg of the CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round with a commanding 4-0 lead.