R1M PER CHIPPA MATCH, SAYS BCM

Club has to give back to the city by tutoring East London youths

BCM has agreed to approach Chippa and offer them R1m per match played in East London, as long as they mentor budding BCM talent.

A newly reviewed memorandum of agreement between Buffalo City Metro and Chippa United Football Club was proposed for approval during a council meeting on Wednesday.

The new changes were made to the proposed memorandum after ANC councillors were divided about the approval of the new memorandum from the last council meeting.

BCM city manager Andile Sihlahla said in a report tabled before council on Wednesday:

“Considering all issues raised in council, the following have been effected into the revised memorandum of agreement between BCM and Chippa United FC:

“Having considered the sponsorship budget and other municipal commitments regarding sponsorships, the institution can only afford to support Chippa United Football Club with R5.5m.”

“Six matches at a maximum of R1m VAT inclusive per match excluding unofficial match. The R5.5m is inclusive of R500,000 which is allocated for marketing. Chippa United shall be required to present to management its proposed annual marketing expense.”

The changes state that should the club be relegated from the Premier Soccer League, BCM will pull out of the agreement.

“A revised agreement between BCM and Chippa United FC has been reduced from three years to two years. Should the club fold or be sold to another owner, BCM will pull out of the agreement.

“Chippa United FC must support youth soccer development within BCM as part of its social responsibility and investment back to BCM,” Sihlahla said.

BCM is hoping to get exposure and marketing from the partnership to “assist in developing new skills and generating new professionals”.

The partnership will be funded from the metro’s sports sponsorship and development fund.

Tensions ran high when ANC councillors once again clashed over the matter.

The council agreed that Sihlahla, mayor Xola Pakati and legal services would engage with Chippa United FC owner Siviwe “Chippa” Mpengesi.

The DA questioned why Chippa should be funded by BCM when they are already being funded by Nelson Mandela Bay.

In August the Daily Dispatch reported that all hell broke loose when a new report calling for the funding of Port Elizabeth-based Chippa United Football Club was tabled.

That deal proposed Mpengesi’s club be paid R1.2m for each its six matches in the PSL.

EFF chief whip Chumani Matiwane said “maybe this [approval] is done to enrich comrades”.

‘Maybe this [approval] is done to enrich comrades’