It is all systems go for the Absa Premiership clash between Chippa United and Ajax Cape Town scheduled for Buffalo City Stadium in East London on Sunday.
This was revealed by the Buffalo City Metro (BCM) and Chippa officials in a joint press briefing held at the stadium which has been the subject of uncertainty on whether the match will actually take place.
This after the PSL red-carded the venue for failing to meet proper requirements.
But yesterday it was all smiles as BCM mayor Alfred Mtsi described the stadium as being ready to host the first PSL match in the city in years.
“Everything is 100% ready but monitoring will continue until the day of the game although we do not foresee any glitches,” Mtsi reassured lovers of the beautiful game in and around East London.
The Chippa contingent, including players will be touching down East London on Thursday while tickets will be available at Computicket and Checkers stores from tomorrow.
Chippa COO Lukhanyo Mzinzi said they were expecting a capacity crowd to fill the 16 000- plus seater and promised that they would deliver on the field of play.
“We are finally claiming our space because Eastern Cape as a whole and not Port Elizabeth is our home,” said Mzinzi.
“There could not have been a better opportunity to grow the brand and entrench our footprint than coming to East London.”
Chippa is hoping to open their East London stay with a win courtesy of an avalanche of goals.
“We are highly confident that we can beat Ajax and by a big score especially after a morale boosting victory away from home last weekend,” an upbeat Mzinzi said.
Chippa dominated and defeated Golden Arrows by 2-0 at Chatsworth Stadium last weekend to vault to the top eight on the log.
But they will not have an easy ride against a determined Ajax that also came from a 2-1 away triumph over Jomo Cosmos, a fact that sets the stage for a thriller on Sunday.
For Mtsi, it made sense for an Eastern Cape PSL side like Chippa to play its home games in East London which is geographically central in the province.
When asked if he plans to lure Chippa from Nelson Mandela Bay Metro to East London on a more permanent basis, Mtsi responded: “It is not our agenda to poach them from anyone but we are going to escalate this partnership we have with Chippa beyond this ongoing soccer season.”
The current agreement between BCM and Chippa is that at least five matches be brought to East London which is now the club’s official alternative venue.
Mzinzi, however, said they may bring more games before the end of the season “which of course depends on our progression on upcoming cups.”
Mtsi refused to disclose the financial value of the deal.
Instead, he explained how the metro was going to benefit from the partnership with Chippa.
“Indirect benefits include the increase in tourism wherein people travelling in numbers will be sleeping in our B&Bs and hotels,” he said.
“It will bring joy to us to see our SMMEs occupying prime space at the stadium to sell food and beverages during the match.”
Upon arrival, Chippa players and technical staff will be conducting coaching clinics around the metro.
BCM gears up for PSL clash
This was revealed by the Buffalo City Metro (BCM) and Chippa officials in a joint press briefing held at the stadium which has been the subject of uncertainty on whether the match will actually take place.
This after the PSL red-carded the venue for failing to meet proper requirements.
But yesterday it was all smiles as BCM mayor Alfred Mtsi described the stadium as being ready to host the first PSL match in the city in years.
“Everything is 100% ready but monitoring will continue until the day of the game although we do not foresee any glitches,” Mtsi reassured lovers of the beautiful game in and around East London.
The Chippa contingent, including players will be touching down East London on Thursday while tickets will be available at Computicket and Checkers stores from tomorrow.
Chippa COO Lukhanyo Mzinzi said they were expecting a capacity crowd to fill the 16 000- plus seater and promised that they would deliver on the field of play.
“We are finally claiming our space because Eastern Cape as a whole and not Port Elizabeth is our home,” said Mzinzi.
“There could not have been a better opportunity to grow the brand and entrench our footprint than coming to East London.”
Chippa is hoping to open their East London stay with a win courtesy of an avalanche of goals.
“We are highly confident that we can beat Ajax and by a big score especially after a morale boosting victory away from home last weekend,” an upbeat Mzinzi said.
Chippa dominated and defeated Golden Arrows by 2-0 at Chatsworth Stadium last weekend to vault to the top eight on the log.
But they will not have an easy ride against a determined Ajax that also came from a 2-1 away triumph over Jomo Cosmos, a fact that sets the stage for a thriller on Sunday.
For Mtsi, it made sense for an Eastern Cape PSL side like Chippa to play its home games in East London which is geographically central in the province.
When asked if he plans to lure Chippa from Nelson Mandela Bay Metro to East London on a more permanent basis, Mtsi responded: “It is not our agenda to poach them from anyone but we are going to escalate this partnership we have with Chippa beyond this ongoing soccer season.”
The current agreement between BCM and Chippa is that at least five matches be brought to East London which is now the club’s official alternative venue.
Mzinzi, however, said they may bring more games before the end of the season “which of course depends on our progression on upcoming cups.”
Mtsi refused to disclose the financial value of the deal.
Instead, he explained how the metro was going to benefit from the partnership with Chippa.
“Indirect benefits include the increase in tourism wherein people travelling in numbers will be sleeping in our B&Bs and hotels,” he said.
“It will bring joy to us to see our SMMEs occupying prime space at the stadium to sell food and beverages during the match.”
Upon arrival, Chippa players and technical staff will be conducting coaching clinics around the metro.
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