Stadium off bounds rule irks local clubs
Teams banned from Sisa until after Chippa game
MDANTSANE soccer clubs have been barred from using the newly refurbished Sisa Dukashe Stadium until after Chippa United has hosted Highlands Park on December 17.
The instruction from the provincial department of sport, recreation, arts and culture (Dsrac) to Buffalo City Metro was made after the stadium was upgraded to meet PSL standards.
Sisa Dukashe last weekend hosted four MultiChoice Diski Challenge (MDC) matches featuring eight PSL clubs reserve sides.
This came after more that three months of renovations at the NU2-based stadium.
The upgrade was undertaken after the PSL red-flagged the stadium for not meeting its minimum standards.
Seven Mdantsane soccer clubs campaigning in the Safa Leagues have been using the venue as their home ground but now have to find alternative venues outside Mdantsane since the start of the current SAB and ABC Motsepe leagues.
Dsrac MEC Pemmy Majodina confirmed that she had “advised” BCM to keep the venue locked until after the Chippa match on December 17.
“I supported the closing out of local clubs because we were bidding to host the MDC and Chippa next weekend,” said Majodina, who emphasised that her department was not directly involved in issues relating to the use of the facility.
“My advice was in the interests of sport tourism, which benefits the province from the hosting of major sport events.”
However, the move has irked the amateur clubs, who have accused BCM of favouring Chippa United.
But mayor Xola Pakati said the metro was in the process of renovating all sport facilities in the township so everyone could be accommodated.
However, he could not say what alternative venues the amateur clubs could use while Sisa was out of bounds.
Pakati said it was an issue that would be sorted out between the metro and Mdantsane Local Football Association (Mdalfa).
“We have managed to host the MDC because we met the PSL standard, which we would like to maintain to be able to host PSL matches,” said the mayor.
But Mdalfa president Mnyamezeli Bomeni accused the metro of foul play.
“We have had clubs complaining that they have to travel out of Mdantsane for their matches and these are amateur clubs that are struggling financially,” Bomeni said.
“It is totally wrong to say these clubs cannot play in Sisa without providing alternative venues within Mdantsane while Sisa is treated as an ornament.”
A senior Safa Buffalo City executive member, who asked not to be named, concurred.
“It cannot be that local clubs are pushed around like what is happening now because the municipality is in pursuit of prioritising a PSL side that is not based in Buffalo City.”
Vuyani Gantana, general manager of Mighty Bucks, one of the affected local clubs, agreed with Bomeni, saying BCM was interested only in the commercial side of soccer at the expense of development.
“This is going to kill the development of football in Mdantsane because the municipality is favouring Chippa at the expense of local clubs,” Gantana said.
“Mark my words, although we are not allowed to play, soon enough the same field will be hosting a political rally or church service.”
Two matches scheduled for Sisa this week have been cancelled and others have been moved to different venues. This includes a Mdantsane derby between Tornado and Mdantsane Mighty Bucks, which will now take place at North End Stadium.
Safa Buffalo City president Prince Sibam said they will engage the city to find a solution. –