PSL wants games in EL

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.