Manchester City lose South African opener
Reuters - Saturday 18 July 2009, 15:44
POLOKWANE, South Africa - Orlando Pirates beat Manchester City 2-0 on Saturday at the start of the English Premier League side's three-match tour of South Africa.
A makeshift City side, who played without any of their recent signings or their Brazilian contingent, went down to a first-half penalty by Lucas Thwala and a second-half goal by Phenyo Mongala.
City play their second match against Kaizer Chiefs in Durban on Tuesday and manager Mark Hughes was yet to decide whether strikers Carlos Tevez and Roque Santa Cruz would get their first outings since joining the club in recent weeks.
"It might to be too early to risk them as their match fitness is not up to speed," Hughes told reporters.
"It's more about our conditioning for the moment. There are players at different levels of fitness and the next few games will sort that out. We were pleased with the day although not the result."
Manchester City's last game of the tour is in Pretoria next Saturday.