A defiant Buffalo City Metro municipality head of the LOC for Chippa United matches earmarked for East London, Sthembiso Khanyile has laughed off court interdict threats by the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro to stop the Chilli Boys from hosting their matches in the city as “wrong in law and logic”.
Khanyile was backed to an extent by Chippa boss Siviwe Mpengesi who was also adamant that all matches scheduled for EL will go ahead as planned “except the Orlando Pirates one”.
As if to compensate for the Buccaneers match which will now take place in PE, Mpengesi said there was an additional match coming to BCM – the Nedbank Cup clash with Baroka FC on March 6.
BCM was “unfazed” by the new developments in PE with the NMB threatening to unleash a court interdict on Chippa, said Khanyile, because they were privy to the terms of the contract agreement between the PSL club and the Bay metro.
According to Khanyile, Chippa had two existing contracts with the Bay – one for relocating from Cape Town and an interim agreement “which is clear that the club will play at least 10 matches per season and look at playing the other matches elsewhere as part of expanding the brand”.
Asked what were the terms and nature of the agreement his club had with NMB, Mpengesi said “ask that to them ” before saying he was not going to comment any further on the matter.
The rift between Chippa and the NMB has reached boiling point that it attracted the attention of Bhisho with MEC for sport, recreation, arts and culture Pemmy Majodina having convened an urgent meeting with the warring parties last night to quell the fire.
Khanyile emphasised that no municipality had the right to bully Chippa as to where they should play matches.
“Everyone understands that Chippa has been adopted as a provincial team and therefore cannot be kept in one corner of the province,” said Khanyile.
“In fact no municipality has the right to restrict clubs in terms of where they want to play, only PSL regulates and control top-flight football in the country and only they can approve where to play or not to play.”
The PSL has given Chippa the green light for five more matches in EL, including the highly contested one featuring Pirates on May 11 and the Nedbank face-off with Baroka.
The BCM was going to “do everything we can” to outplay NMB so as to ensure that Chippa remains in EL, opined Khanyile “because the Buffalo City people have spoken. The question should be, can BCM afford to lose top-flight football when we have produced evidence that people want it here? No ways.”
He was referring to the capacity crowd the Chilli Boys saw in their two matches played at Buffalo City Stadium. “We have an arrangement with Chippa to bring a number of matches to Buffalo City and as long as they meet that obligation, we are not worried.”
With the economic benefits that come with hosting PSL matches, said Khanyile, who is also a manager in the office of BCM deputy mayor, such contestation between metros was not unexpected.
Chippa hang tough
Khanyile was backed to an extent by Chippa boss Siviwe Mpengesi who was also adamant that all matches scheduled for EL will go ahead as planned “except the Orlando Pirates one”.
As if to compensate for the Buccaneers match which will now take place in PE, Mpengesi said there was an additional match coming to BCM – the Nedbank Cup clash with Baroka FC on March 6.
BCM was “unfazed” by the new developments in PE with the NMB threatening to unleash a court interdict on Chippa, said Khanyile, because they were privy to the terms of the contract agreement between the PSL club and the Bay metro.
According to Khanyile, Chippa had two existing contracts with the Bay – one for relocating from Cape Town and an interim agreement “which is clear that the club will play at least 10 matches per season and look at playing the other matches elsewhere as part of expanding the brand”.
Asked what were the terms and nature of the agreement his club had with NMB, Mpengesi said “ask that to them ” before saying he was not going to comment any further on the matter.
The rift between Chippa and the NMB has reached boiling point that it attracted the attention of Bhisho with MEC for sport, recreation, arts and culture Pemmy Majodina having convened an urgent meeting with the warring parties last night to quell the fire.
Khanyile emphasised that no municipality had the right to bully Chippa as to where they should play matches.
“Everyone understands that Chippa has been adopted as a provincial team and therefore cannot be kept in one corner of the province,” said Khanyile.
“In fact no municipality has the right to restrict clubs in terms of where they want to play, only PSL regulates and control top-flight football in the country and only they can approve where to play or not to play.”
The PSL has given Chippa the green light for five more matches in EL, including the highly contested one featuring Pirates on May 11 and the Nedbank face-off with Baroka.
The BCM was going to “do everything we can” to outplay NMB so as to ensure that Chippa remains in EL, opined Khanyile “because the Buffalo City people have spoken. The question should be, can BCM afford to lose top-flight football when we have produced evidence that people want it here? No ways.”
He was referring to the capacity crowd the Chilli Boys saw in their two matches played at Buffalo City Stadium. “We have an arrangement with Chippa to bring a number of matches to Buffalo City and as long as they meet that obligation, we are not worried.”
With the economic benefits that come with hosting PSL matches, said Khanyile, who is also a manager in the office of BCM deputy mayor, such contestation between metros was not unexpected.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos