In a blow to Premier Soccer League fans in East London, Chippa United confirmed it has asked for its upcoming match next Sunday against Cape Town City to be moved from Mdantsane to Port Elizabeth.
This is due to poor playing conditions at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium.
Chippa chairman Siviwe “Chippa” Mpengesi also revealed that the club would this season move all further planned club games from the NU2 venue to the Buffalo City Stadium (BCM) in East London.
This comes after the Chilli Boys moved some of their home games from Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium last year to Sisa Dukashe – attracting capacity crowds from the top-flight starved Mdantsane fanatics.
“The club has made a decision to move the games from Sisa Dukashe to Stadium for this season after the ground could not meet the required PSL standards.
“The game between ourselves and Cape Town City scheduled for Sunday 22 October that was due to take place at Sisa Dukashe will now be moved to Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.
“We apologise to our beloved fans, particularly those in the Buffalo City Metro and surrounding areas,” the club boss said.
Mpengesi’s comment that Sisa Dukashe Stadium does not meet PSL standards came as a shock, especially as the metro has said it had set aside R3-million to fix it after it was sharply criticised, mostly for its poor drainage system, last season.
It is not clear how the stadium does not meet PSL standards, as it is understood that no inspectors have been sent to Mdantsane by the PSL.
While the Port Elizabeth-based outfit was not willing to say which of its home games will be played in East London, the club did confirm that it would play five games at BCM Stadium.
However, no official decision has been made by the PSL, although it did admit that it had received Chippa’s application to have the games moved and would be making a decision on it in due course.
“We are yet to make any announcement or statement on the matches to be played in BCM for the current PLS 2017/2018 season,” said municipal spokesman Samkelo Ngwenya. — rossr@dispatch.co.za
Chippa shun Sisa for PE
This is due to poor playing conditions at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium.
Chippa chairman Siviwe “Chippa” Mpengesi also revealed that the club would this season move all further planned club games from the NU2 venue to the Buffalo City Stadium (BCM) in East London.
This comes after the Chilli Boys moved some of their home games from Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium last year to Sisa Dukashe – attracting capacity crowds from the top-flight starved Mdantsane fanatics.
“The club has made a decision to move the games from Sisa Dukashe to Stadium for this season after the ground could not meet the required PSL standards.
“The game between ourselves and Cape Town City scheduled for Sunday 22 October that was due to take place at Sisa Dukashe will now be moved to Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.
“We apologise to our beloved fans, particularly those in the Buffalo City Metro and surrounding areas,” the club boss said.
Mpengesi’s comment that Sisa Dukashe Stadium does not meet PSL standards came as a shock, especially as the metro has said it had set aside R3-million to fix it after it was sharply criticised, mostly for its poor drainage system, last season.
It is not clear how the stadium does not meet PSL standards, as it is understood that no inspectors have been sent to Mdantsane by the PSL.
While the Port Elizabeth-based outfit was not willing to say which of its home games will be played in East London, the club did confirm that it would play five games at BCM Stadium.
However, no official decision has been made by the PSL, although it did admit that it had received Chippa’s application to have the games moved and would be making a decision on it in due course.
“We are yet to make any announcement or statement on the matches to be played in BCM for the current PLS 2017/2018 season,” said municipal spokesman Samkelo Ngwenya. — rossr@dispatch.co.za
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