SOCCER bosses are banking on Buffalo City Metro having a change of heart and prioritizing a fix-up of Buffalo City stadium so that they can again hold major soccer games in East London.
The Premier Soccer League (PSL) decided in October to stop hosting games at the stadium “after the venue failed a number of PSL-stipulated standards,” said general manager Luxolo September.
The decision pushed East London football club Blackburn Rovers to vacate the stadium – and city – and seek an alternative venue until local authorities have acted on the PSL’s requirements.
The Daily Dispatch reported early this year that PSL chief operations officer Ronnie Schloss had approved both the use of Mthatha’s multimil lion-rand 2010 World Cup stadium for PSL matches, and that Black burn Rovers could make the stadium their home ground – a decision that saw the East London team relocating to Mthatha.
But it seems things are not as rosy in Mthatha.
However, the Daily Dispatch understands that the South African Broadcasting Cooperation (SABC ) tried in vain to persuade the PSL to move tomorrow’s Nedbank Cup game between Maritzburg United and Thembu Royals back to East Lon don, because the Mthatha stadium was not user-friendly for a live broadcast.
However, the game was postponed at the 11th hour amid in the wake of ongoing arbitration between Tembu Royals and Ama Zulu.
In a statement yesterday, PSL general manager of football Derek Blanckensee said: “ will advise on the future date for the fixture, pending the outcome of the arbitration.”
SABC spokesman Kaizer Kganya go refused to confirm or deny any of the findings, saying: “We cannot comment on the issues on the stadium, as the SABC is no longer broadcasting the game.”
Sources involved in planning for the Tembu Royals/Maritzburg United game, (now shelved), confirmed that the SABC’s technical team reported flaws at the Mthatha stadium too. Among the report findings was that:
lThere were no commentary boxes for both radio and TV journalists. As a result, rain or wind would negatively affect the broadcast quality;
l The public broadcaster would have to hire and transport commentary boxes from Cape Town;
l They would have to hire scaf folding from East London to build five three-metre high towers for cameras; and
l There is not enough parking space at the stadium for live broadcast trucks.
SABC’s football executive producer, Pat Mahuma, told the PSL: “In the wake of the challenges, look at an alternative TV- friendly venue – maybe East Lon don.”
September said the PSL decision last year to avoid using the Buffalo City stadium was based on a report by an inspection team led by Schools which found:
lGoal posts needed to be straightened;
lAblutions facilities were in a poor state;
l Security and health risks at the north-west corner of the stadium, which was being used as a recycling area;
lNo spare goalposts or nets, as stipulated by PSL rules;
lGrubby seating on the west grandstand in need of cleaning;
lEntry points needed upgrading and;
lPoor lighting, especially in the toilets.
BCM spokesman Keith Ngesi said the problem was that the stadium was on lease to Border Bulldogs.
“But the development planning department is working hard to sort out the lease issue, and we are all positive that by the beginning of the new financial year we will be able to sort all the loose ends and make the stadium user-friendly, as per PSL requirements,” said Ngesi.
“This is a matter that would be of mutual benefit to both the city and the PSL, so it is a priority,” he added.
September said it was up to BCM to ensure that the stadium was in a good state. —
“I cannot pre-empt what will happen in the future. The ball is in the court of the local municipalities. To be honest it is up to them.
“From the PSL’s side, we would certainly love to have football in East London and the Eastern Cape,” said September.
PSL wants games in EL
The Premier Soccer League (PSL) decided in October to stop hosting games at the stadium “after the venue failed a number of PSL-stipulated standards,” said general manager Luxolo September.
The decision pushed East London football club Blackburn Rovers to vacate the stadium – and city – and seek an alternative venue until local authorities have acted on the PSL’s requirements.
The Daily Dispatch reported early this year that PSL chief operations officer Ronnie Schloss had approved both the use of Mthatha’s multimil lion-rand 2010 World Cup stadium for PSL matches, and that Black burn Rovers could make the stadium their home ground – a decision that saw the East London team relocating to Mthatha.
But it seems things are not as rosy in Mthatha.
However, the Daily Dispatch understands that the South African Broadcasting Cooperation (SABC ) tried in vain to persuade the PSL to move tomorrow’s Nedbank Cup game between Maritzburg United and Thembu Royals back to East Lon don, because the Mthatha stadium was not user-friendly for a live broadcast.
However, the game was postponed at the 11th hour amid in the wake of ongoing arbitration between Tembu Royals and Ama Zulu.
In a statement yesterday, PSL general manager of football Derek Blanckensee said: “ will advise on the future date for the fixture, pending the outcome of the arbitration.”
SABC spokesman Kaizer Kganya go refused to confirm or deny any of the findings, saying: “We cannot comment on the issues on the stadium, as the SABC is no longer broadcasting the game.”
Sources involved in planning for the Tembu Royals/Maritzburg United game, (now shelved), confirmed that the SABC’s technical team reported flaws at the Mthatha stadium too. Among the report findings was that:
lThere were no commentary boxes for both radio and TV journalists. As a result, rain or wind would negatively affect the broadcast quality;
l The public broadcaster would have to hire and transport commentary boxes from Cape Town;
l They would have to hire scaf folding from East London to build five three-metre high towers for cameras; and
l There is not enough parking space at the stadium for live broadcast trucks.
SABC’s football executive producer, Pat Mahuma, told the PSL: “In the wake of the challenges, look at an alternative TV- friendly venue – maybe East Lon don.”
September said the PSL decision last year to avoid using the Buffalo City stadium was based on a report by an inspection team led by Schools which found:
lGoal posts needed to be straightened;
lAblutions facilities were in a poor state;
l Security and health risks at the north-west corner of the stadium, which was being used as a recycling area;
lNo spare goalposts or nets, as stipulated by PSL rules;
lGrubby seating on the west grandstand in need of cleaning;
lEntry points needed upgrading and;
lPoor lighting, especially in the toilets.
BCM spokesman Keith Ngesi said the problem was that the stadium was on lease to Border Bulldogs.
“But the development planning department is working hard to sort out the lease issue, and we are all positive that by the beginning of the new financial year we will be able to sort all the loose ends and make the stadium user-friendly, as per PSL requirements,” said Ngesi.
“This is a matter that would be of mutual benefit to both the city and the PSL, so it is a priority,” he added.
September said it was up to BCM to ensure that the stadium was in a good state. —
“I cannot pre-empt what will happen in the future. The ball is in the court of the local municipalities. To be honest it is up to them.
“From the PSL’s side, we would certainly love to have football in East London and the Eastern Cape,” said September.
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