Tornado players, who are still mourning the death of club boss Siphiwo “Mawawa” Nyobo need a new stadium for official league games and training, sport minister Thokozile Xasa was told.
Xasa visited the Nyobo family at their Mdantsane NU17 home on Saturday.
She visited to pay her respects after Nyobo, 68, was shot and killed last weekend outside the North End Stadium.
At the pre-funeral church service, ANC ward 22 branch chair Vusumzi Joni said playing at North End Stadium would be too traumatic for the players.
“These players need a new stadium to play in here in Mdantsane. Tornado is a Mdantsane team, it doesn't make sense that they play home games at North End in East London. Their supporters struggle to travel to East London. The stadium is a traumatic site for these players.”
Buffalo City Metro ward 22 councillor Vivian Sakube agreed, saying the city paid too much to support Chippa United. Sakube said the support shown to Chippa should be diverted to a team like Tornado which plays in the ABC Motsepe League.
The BCM is paying R5.5m to the Chilli Boys to play six soccer matches at Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane.
Sakube, who is part of council, which resolved to back Chippa, said: “Too much preferential treatment is given to Chippa which is not even from here. We need to rethink the partnership with Chippa. Tornado is our own team.”
Xasa said she planned to call a meeting with sport bosses and councillors to discuss the call including other sport development matters in the BCM region.
“We need a nodal approach at this because budget is a challenge but most importantly we are here to say to perpetrators that not in the name of the beautiful game, sport is about peace and development."
Nyobo will be laid to rest next Saturday.
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