Orlando Pirates coach Ruud Krol fired a broadside at Bafana Bafana head coach Carlos Alberto Parreira, after his side drew 0-0 against Absa Premiership champions SuperSport United in their first league clash after the PSL break.
Krol, a former Dutch captain, was upset by the condition his Bafana players returned after a 10 day camp under Parreira in Durban last month as part of his preparation for June’s World Cup finals.
“The players who came back from the camp last Thursday were flat and it was a big problem for me against SuperSport,” said Krol afterwards.
“My national team players were not in good shape when they returned. They were not fresh.
“I heard they did a lot of physical training, but there has been no communication from the national coach. I expected a report but received nothing. It is disturbing.”
Krol’s criticism comes hard on the heels of that of Moroka Swallows coach Rainer Zobel who said it was nonsense for the PSL and the SA Football Association to force teams to end the season by March 7 in order for Bafana to have three months to prepare for the finals.
Krol was backed up by United coach Gavin Hunt who found his Bafana players in similar condition.
Looking ahead
But Krol reckons his side will be a lot sharper when they meet BidVest Wits at the Milpark Stadium on Saturday.
He is expected to give his new midfield signing, Zambian star and former Buccaneer Isaac Chansa, his debut.
“I have been impressed by Chansa at training. He featured in the recent African Nations Cup for Zambia and unlike my Bafana players, he looks sharp.”
One player who will not feature against the Students is striker Terror Fanteni who dislocated his shoulder against United.
The Students drew 1-1- away against relegation threatened Mpumalanga Black Aces on Wednesday and still need to pick up points to move further away from the relegation zone.
Hunt came away from the first round of fixtures after the break happier than all his rivals. He was smiling after his nearest rivals, Mamelodi Sundowns, were also held 0-0 at home by Bloemfontein Celtic as the league heads into the final straight.
Celtic had two goals disallowed during that match. United host struggling Free State Stars at the Super Stadium on Saturday night. Kick-off is at 6pm, while second placed Downs have a difficult away trip to the Athlone Stadium where they come up against Ajax Cape Town on Sunday.
Said Hunt: “We have five matches to play. We had a bad run-in last season and still won the title.
“Hopefully this season it will be different. The fact Sundowns could only manage a draw at home to Celtic shows me in this league anyone can beat anyone.
“I thought we did enough to collect three points against Pirates but at the end of the day a point could prove to be crucial.”
Hunt believes 60 points would be enough to win the championship and United need 12 points from their remaining five matches to reach that target. — Sapa