AmaZulu head coach Pablo Franco Martin has hit out at the Premier Soccer League (PSL) for the scheduling of their match against Orlando Pirates, just two days after playing Kaizer Chiefs in the Carling Knockout.
Usuthu successfully booked their spot in the last eight of the Carling Knockout with a 1-0 win over Amakhosi at FNB Stadium on Saturday.
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Despite the victory, Martin revealed in his post-match press conference that he feels hard-done by the PSL's scheduling of their upcoming DStv Premiership match against Pirates.
The clash to be played on Tuesday at Moses Mabhida Stadium and was initially postponed to accommodate The Buccaneers' CAF Champions League matches.
"To be honest, I don't expect too much because I think it's not fair to play on Tuesday," Martin said.
"It was something unexpected. This was something from the PSL. They postponed the game we had to play before the MTN8 Final, which I understand.
"Even if I wanted, as a coach because I know I was going to have an advantage playing four days before the [MTN8] final, but then to have that game on Tuesday, when we have a crucial game on Saturday, travelling after traveling today, playing at 18:00.
"So that means we are going to have only Monday, not even to prepare for that game because it's a day before the game.
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"I came here [to South Africa] to play these kinds of games, like the one we played [against Chiefs] to beat these opponents, and to beat a huge team like Chiefs we needed to prepare really well. The same when we are playing against Pirates.
"With preparations, I feel that this team is not going to fear anyone"
"Without preparation, with not time to rest, with players who are the in the ice to see if they can be available for that game. It's going to be much more difficult. Even more if they played yesterday. You know how it works.
? MTN8?Carling KnockoutIt ends in defeat for Kaizer Chiefs as Taariq Fielies scores in the 88th minute to send AmaZulu into the #CarlingKnockout quarterfinals ? pic.twitter.com/OvAYxwEef0
— SuperSport Football ?? (@SSFootball) October 21, 2023
"But I think I need to say that publicly because thigs have to be fair, because I think it's not fair at all. I feel things should be fair for everyone because we are all fighting for the same objectives.
"We all have families, we all have to feed them. This is about that. We all want to win, we all want to offer a good show to our fans when we play. We don't want to go with the reserve team to official games.
AmaZulu's match against Pirates will kick off at 19:30.
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