Top-flight football could be headed to East London for the first time in almost a decade if Chippa United’s request to move next month’s Absa Premiership match against Bloemfontein Celtic is agreed to by the Premier Soccer League (PSL).
Chippa have the Buffalo City Stadium designated as their alternative venue and want to finish the year in another part of Eastern Cape as they seek to extend their supporter base.
The Port Elizabeth-based club have asked for permission to switch the venue of the game on Friday‚ December 18‚ which is to be televised nationally.
In response to the request‚ the PSL have sent chief operations officer Ronnie Schloss to inspect the facility but have asked for several upgrades and guarantees before they agree to the switch.
A decision will likely be made next week‚ PSL officials said. The 16 000-seater stadium used to be the home ground of Mthatha Bush Bucks when they moved their club from the former Transkei capital to the coast.
The last top-flight league match played at the venue was in April 2006 when Bucks drew 1-1 with Orlando Pirates to all but end the visitors’ title hopes.
Bucks finished in the relegation zone and were then beaten in the promotion-relegation play-offs and have not been able to get back to the top-flight since.
Buffalo City Stadium‚ which was opened in 1934‚ was previously named after Basil Kenyon‚ the former Springbok rugby captain‚ and is primarily used for rugby matches.
Bafana Bafana played at the venue in 2003 when they lost to Zimbabwe in the Cosafa Cup quarterfinal. – Tiso Black Star Group Digital
PSL could return to East London
Chippa have the Buffalo City Stadium designated as their alternative venue and want to finish the year in another part of Eastern Cape as they seek to extend their supporter base.
The Port Elizabeth-based club have asked for permission to switch the venue of the game on Friday‚ December 18‚ which is to be televised nationally.
In response to the request‚ the PSL have sent chief operations officer Ronnie Schloss to inspect the facility but have asked for several upgrades and guarantees before they agree to the switch.
A decision will likely be made next week‚ PSL officials said. The 16 000-seater stadium used to be the home ground of Mthatha Bush Bucks when they moved their club from the former Transkei capital to the coast.
The last top-flight league match played at the venue was in April 2006 when Bucks drew 1-1 with Orlando Pirates to all but end the visitors’ title hopes.
Bucks finished in the relegation zone and were then beaten in the promotion-relegation play-offs and have not been able to get back to the top-flight since.
Buffalo City Stadium‚ which was opened in 1934‚ was previously named after Basil Kenyon‚ the former Springbok rugby captain‚ and is primarily used for rugby matches.
Bafana Bafana played at the venue in 2003 when they lost to Zimbabwe in the Cosafa Cup quarterfinal. – Tiso Black Star Group Digital
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