Mamelodi Sundowns co-coach Manqoba Mngqithi believes Jwaneng Galaxy could have taken their CAF Champions League match to a better stadium than the Lobatse Sports Complex.
Sundowns started their African campaign on a high note after beating Galaxy 2-0 in Botswana on Tuesday as Mothobi Mvala and Peter Shalulile netted goals for The Brazilians to boost their chances of qualifying for the group stage again.
Although he is happy with the result away from home and thanked Botswana for their hospitality, Mngqithi was disappointed with the pitch at the Lobatse Sports Complex and believes it worked against both teams.
"Overall it was a good game even though the pitch conditions could have been better. I believe Botswana is capable of a better pitch than this," Mngqithi told the media after the match.
"This is a very good team, they can play football on the ground. Maybe it also made is difficult for you [Jwaneng Galaxy] when your pitch is not good enough because they are a quick and explosive team with number 19 [Lebohang Ditsele] and the passes he has.
Check out the latest offering from PUMA for Sundowns' 50th anniversary
"If structurally you are looking good but you depend on aerial balls because the pitch is not good, it also plays against you, especially if you are the home team because as a home team you want to dominate, to initiate attacks and not rely on breaks, counter-attacks and set-pieces.
"For me, in as much as it could be a strength to the effect that Sundowns play football on the ground, to play on a field that is not very good in terms of the pitch would not make Sundowns play.
"The fact that you play at home, you should give yourself an advantage to be able to be dominate a game at home. Those are important lessons in the Champions League. Your home match is the most important match for you because at home you don't want to concede.
"When you concede at home it becomes difficult in the Champions League. Maybe those are the lessons that the boys can take but believe me, this is a good team we played against."
Sundowns are set to host the second leg at Loftus Stadium on January 5 next year.