Raja Casablanca coach, Rusmir Cvirko, expressed his frustration over the poor condition of the Accra Sports Stadium pitch following his team’s 2-2 draw with Ghana Premier League champions Samartex 1996 in the CAF Champions League second preliminary round on Sunday.
Speaking after the match, Cvirko acknowledged his players’ hard work but was quick to criticize the field, stating that it severely impacted their performance.
“I am not happy. I am happy we didn’t lose the game, but normally, we must win this game,” Cvirko told Max TV. “But on this field, how we play, it’s impossible to play.”
The subpar pitch conditions have been a recurring issue for teams playing at the Accra Sports Stadium, and Cvirko emphasized that it disrupted Raja Casablanca’s usual style of play. Despite the challenges, the Moroccan coach commended his team for their resilience and effort.
“How we played today, I say congratulations, because that’s a big win for my team, and because of that, I am proud of these young boys,” he added. “But playing on this field made it very difficult.”
Raja Casablanca will now look forward to hosting Samartex 1996 for the second leg at home, where they aim to capitalize on the 2-2 result from the away fixture.