AmaZulu FC coach Pablo Franco Martin has slammed Orlando Pirates for celebrating like they’d conquered the biggest stage in football and accused them of unsportsmanlike conduct.
Franco Martin fired off these scathing remarks after a tightly-contested clash saw his AmaZulu troops play the majority of the DStv Premiership tie a man down at Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Saturday.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, tensions remained high, and according to the Usuthu coach, Pirates’ celebrations after their 1-0 win, courtesy of a Tshegofatso Mabasa strike, were simply over the top.
This was Pirates’ second win against AmaZulu in as many weeks, having just defeated them last week in a Nedbank Cup quarter-final in Durban under controversial circumstances.
Franco Martin insinuated that Pirates’ exuberance was not only unwarranted but also disrespectful to AmaZulu, especially considering a controversial red card shown to AmaZulu’s Abbubaker Mobara in the 21st minute for a challenge on Patrick Maswanganyi.
AMAZULU COACH QUESTIONS PIRATES’ CONDUCT
“Once more, the same story within a week, we played an amazing match,” said Franco Martin.
“When we were playing 11 against 11, we hammered them; we created the chances, we hit the post. There was only one team on the pitch and from there, everybody saw what happened once more.
“With one man down, we were able to contain them. We were capable of overcoming the difficult situation. The boys finished the first half well, and at the beginning of the second half again, we dominated with one man less. We created the chances but we couldn’t convert, but in the end, they took advantage as we were one man down.
While Franco Martin went on to praise his own players for the character they showed, he couldn’t help but take a swipe at Pirates, accusing them of acting in an unsportsmanlike manner during certain moments of the game.
FRANCO Martin Calls for Sportsmanship
“I have to say that I saw a lack of gentleman [sportsmanship] in that situation because even against ten (man), they were not capable of beating us. And when [Ethan] Brooks was on the ground with nine players, they took advantage to progress and score a goal,” he added.
“But it’s something that doesn’t surprise me because in the [Nedbank] Cup game, again, we kicked the ball out because one of their players was on the ground. From a throw-in, the ball was kicked for a goal kick, and they went to press.
“When you are underdogs, and the opponents do this to waste time or celebrate as if they won the World Cup after beating us this way. They had a numerical advantage because we had one less player, and from there, I can only feel proud of what my team is doing competing with these kinds of teams.
“The way we’re playing, the way we’re competing. The saddest thing about the story is that this is also happening against some of the teams in the whole season. And it’s hammering the club in terms of results and it’s a pity that once more we have to talk about finishing again with no points, with no reward when we did everything to get even the three points.”
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