Trials of playing under Covid-19

Football under Covid-19 is a whole new ball game. And to hear Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane’s comments, it sounds like a whole new sport.

Sundowns beat Bidvest Wits and Bloemfontein Celtic eased past Baroka FA in the Nedbank Cup semifinals on Saturday.

The first two games of the return to football saw howlers aplenty‚ sluggish play‚ a complicated five-substitution system and a level of injuries that could result in teams running out of fit players.

Mosimane highlighted the number of injured footballers in the two semifinals.

“In the Bloem Celtic-Baroka game we saw many injuries. In our game, we also had plenty of injuries,” Mosimane said. Sphelele Mkhulise could not finish and Themba Zwane, “who always finishes a game, could not finish”.

Sibusiso Vilakazi‚ “who always is in good condition‚ could not finish. Rivaldo [Coetzee] was supposed to be out. And we were preparing Wayne Arendse and Tiyani Mabunda to come on.

“That’s football under Covid19. Players are not ready. You could see that.”

Mosimane was asked if‚ having experienced football under Covid-19‚ Sundowns have any advantage ahead of their big league match against Orlando Pirates on Tuesday.

“Football inside Covid-19 we know it now,” he said, noting that one could only understand the situation with substitutions when you have Mkhulise suffering a muscle injury and Rivaldo being on the bench at the end of the game.

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“I don’t know how many times I asked the fourth official‚ ‘do I still have a substitution to make? They said yes you have‚

“It’s’ confusing.‘ The halftime but you only have two to go’. doesn’t count as a substitute [opportunity]. And I kept asking ... ‘Hey Lux‚ explain this thing to me’,” Mosimane said referring to PSL manager Lux September.

“So it’s difficult. And you might know the rules‚ but once you are under pressure‚ everything goes out of your mind. That’s football under Covid-19.

“So we have an advantage because we’ve played; a disadvantage because we are playing a well-rested team. Disadvantage because we don’t have the legs until Tuesday.

“So‚ ice bath‚ and let’s see how it goes. Until we gain progressively and we understand how it is and we will be able to manage it.”