Pitso Mosimane, the Al Ahly coach back in his home country for a massive CAF Champions League tie against his old club, waxed lyrical about using the Kaizer Chiefs headquarters for their preparations this week.
He said the facilities at Naturena are "the best I've seen on the continent".
The Egyptian giants arrived in SA on Wednesday morning for Saturday's group clash against Mamelodi Sundowns at FNB Stadium and had to quickly get down to business, and Mosimane lamented their preparations.
"Our preparations haven't been very easy. I think you know that we came from playing Al Merrikh (CL group stages) and within three days we had to play Pyramids (Premier League) and that was a top of the table game," he told journalists.
"We had to put everyone in the line-up because we wanted to win, but in comparison to our opponents…I don't even know who they played in the Nedbank Cup, I don't know the name of the team (amateur side Mathaithai FC). We are in a difficult situation of three games in about eight or nine days. It's not just that – we have to fly for 10 hours to come here, travelling from Cairo at 2am to refill in Aswan (Egypt) and leave at 4am to land here. But we are not complaining about preparation. It could have been better. Sundowns had better preparations, they were in Cairo for seven days, no issues. But that's not an excuse. It is the way it is, and I would have done the same if I was at Sundowns to be honest, it's fair."
There was some photos of Ahly mingling with Chiefs staff.
"Jingles", who this week also penned a new bumper two-year contract at Ahly, said Chiefs came to their rescue in a lot of ways.
"We had one day to prepare, but thanks to Kaizer Chiefs, the chairman Mr. Motaung, for offering us the facilities where we could not find any other facility in the country that has the pitch and the therapy for ice baths, massages, the pool and the saunas – there's no facility in South Africa that has that," Mosimane explained.
"But Naturena has got the facility. It was good for us, to see. I haven't seen it myself. What an eye opener to see that there's a team in Africa that has this… not about training pitch only. It's about hospitality, the lounge and everything. Unbelievable, it was high level, top! For me, the best I have seen on the continent. Royal Marang Hotel has the same, but those are the two I have seen in Africa in my 22 years as a coach."
Downs host Ahly at FNB Stadium on Saturday afternoon and lead the visitors by three points after three matches having beat them in Cairo two weeks ago.
