Tshini!
After losing 2-0 to Tunisian side Esperance in the CAF Champions League on Tuesday, Orlando Pirates fans questioned why the Soweto Derby could not be rescheduled to allow Bucs more time to rest and train for the midweek fixture. It has been established that the Buccaneers could not reschedule the Soweto Derby due to an already congested fixture list in the PSL.
Some fans were left frustrated while others felt that what happened to Pirates has happened before and no one complained. Sihle Ntshangase feels the fixture congestion and unwillingness to reschedule the Soweto Derby was unfair to Bucs:
"That was unfair for Orlando Pirates because they had to travel to Tunisia after the match!"
- Blogger: Sihle Ntshangase
On the other hand, Milton Bangizwe seems to have no pity for Pirates and says that when Kaizer Chiefs' schedule was congested, no one stood up for the team:
"Chiefs played against [Bidvest] Wits on Wednesday and on Saturday they travelled to Zambia to play against Zesco. They came back to play against AmaZulu on Wednesday and again they played against Zesco on Saturday. When Middendorp complained about the fixture congestion, they said it is an excuse. NOW THEY [Pirates fans] ARE COMPLAING ABOUT PLAYING IMPORTANT GAMES WITHIN A SHORT SPACE OF TIME."
- Blogger: Milton Bangizwe
While Pirates fans are complaining that their club never had time to prepare for the game against Esperance, Godfrey Skalwyk says the Buccaneers were still going to lose the game even if they had time to prepare:
"But that doesn't change anything, even if they had postponed that match, Esperance Tunis were still going expose their [Pirates'] weakness!"
- Blogger: Godfrey Skalwyk
Is the PSL doing enough to protect clubs playing continental football? Let us know what you think in the comments section below!
