Former Orlando Pirates coach Milutin Sredojevic believes that Justin Shonga and Augustine Mulenga are suffering an injustice at the Soweto giants, saying that the duo were pillars of his side when he was in charge but since his departure ‘everything turned upside down’.

Shonga and Mulenga have both struggled for game time since the departure of the Serbian with Shonga in particular not getting much game time at all.

The Zambian forward has been pushing for a move away from the club and as tensions rose thing came to a head when together, with Thembinkosi Lorch, the Chipolopolo international was suspended for breaking the club’s rules regarding the country’s lockdown and the duo was excluded from the Biologically Safe Environment (BSE).

The club have since dealt with Lorch’s discretion and he has returned to the squad while Shonga is left out in the cold.

Speaking to Soccer24, Sredojevic admitted that he felt the duo were being treated harshly because they are foreigners.

“During my two years at Orlando Pirates, Shonga and [Augustine] Mulenga were pillars of the team as we fought for the league [title],” Sredojevic said.

“The moment I left, everything turned upside down, and I can assure that you can blame the players 99%, but there is still 1% of the aspect on how the team is set-up and unbelievable injustice towards [foreign] players like Shonga and Mulenga.”

“Both of the players were suspended, but the club only retained Lorch to a competitive team, Shonga is still out,” added the Zambia boss.

“This is a cruel life of a foreigner in a country. With the highest degree of respect, I want to see South Africa in the best possible way, but it’s hard for professionals as they need to be more better in order to succeed.”