Pyramids coach criticises Egyptian FA's lack of support before CAF Champions League final second leg
TOUGH SCHEDULE Pyramids FC coach Krunoslav Jurcic criticised the Egyptian Football Association for poor fixture scheduling, citing lack of support ahead of the CAF Champions League final second leg. Picture: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
Image: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
They may have the advantage after the first leg of the CAF Champions League final with their away goal in the 1-1 draw against Mamelodi Sundowns over the weekend, but Pyramids FC coach Krunoslav Jurcic has slammed the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) for its fixture scheduling.
Pyramids struck in added time to rescue the draw that will have come as a heavy blow for hosts Sundowns, at Loftus Versfeld, in Pretoria, on Saturday.
For Sundowns, their entire focus will have been on the Champions League since they played their final Betway Premiership match on 18 May.
In fact, Sundowns had already secured the league title - their eighth in a row - on 14 May when they beat Chippa United.
Challenges Facing Pyramids FC Ahead of Continental and Domestic Finals
It meant that Sundowns effectively had nine days to prepare for their continental final first leg, and then will have the rest of this week to prepare for their trip to Cairo for the return leg on Saturday.
Pyramids, meanwhile, have to play in the Egypt Cup final on Thursday.
With just two days between the two big finals, Pyramids coach Jurcic was not a happy man.
"Pyramids FC receives no support within Egypt, despite representing the country in the most important continental tournament," Jurcic said after the game, as per WinWin.
"Just 48 hours after the final, we have to travel to Ismailia for a crucial league match against Ceramica, a match that doesn't warrant substitutions due to its importance.
"The team should have been supported at this crucial stage to win the title on behalf of Egypt.”