BCM TO SPEND R20M ON TOP SPORTS EVENTS

Future of Chippa United, Ironman guaranteed for several years

Buffalo City Metro council will spend close to R20m on two major sports partnerships – one with Chippa United and the other with Ironman.

On Wednesday the council finally approved the long outstanding Chippa United partnership, as well as the Ironman 70.3 South Africa triathlon event.

For two seasons, 2018-2019 and 2019-2020, the metro is expecting to pay Chippa up to R10m. However, some matches have already been played and deputy mayor Zoliswa Matana said they would not be paying for these games.

City manager Andile Sihlahla, in his report accepted by council, said each season would see Chippa being paid up to R1m (vat inclusive) for five games as well as R500,000 for marketing expenses.

Chippa would also play one unofficial match per season, but BCM would not pay for these.

“Chippa United shall be required to present to management its proposed annual marketing expenses,” Sihlahla wrote.

The approved deal was reduced from three years to two and only approved on certain conditions. These were set out by Sihlahla as:

● Chippa United must adopt a sports development programme within BCM;

● It must introduce a youth development training programme in all 50 wards in partnership with BCM with the involvement of ward councillors; and

● A committee must be set up in all wards which will do the recruitment and selection of young players in the wards.

A number of ANC councillors fully supported the move, but the DA recorded its dissent.

ANC concerns were raised over how tickets would be disbursed.

ANC councillor Luleka Simon-Ndzele said: “We fully support the recommendations but we have a challenge that when tickets are issued for councillors it must be decentralised. Those who are in King William’s Town must get in King William’s Town, those in Mdantsane must get in Mdantsane and those who are in East London must get in East London.”

Another ANC councillor, Mashwabada Gcilishe, said the partnership was in the interest of the council and would contribute positively towards soccer development.

Sihlahla said the club planned to donate kits for U19 and U15 players and tournaments would be introduced.

Deputy mayor Zoliswa Matana said the agreement should only cater for matches that were yet to be played and not matches that had already taken place.

Chippa United chief operations officer Lukhanyo Mzizi welcomed the news, saying it would benefit the entire province, not just the Port Elizabethbased outfit.

“Fans from East London, Mdantsane, Dutywa, Mthatha and other parts of the province have supported the club throughout.

“I am particularly happy for the chairman [Siviwe “Chippa” Mpengesi] because he has been footing the bill from his own pocket,” he said.

Commenting that the Chilli Boys had to give back to the community, Mzizi said they had already been doing that.

● The council later approved the renewal of its contract with Ironman 70.3 SA.

The new deal will see the metro paying the organisers R10.1m over three years from 2020 to 2022.

The metro would pay R3.1m for the 2020 triathlon, R3.3m for 2021 and R3.6m for 2022.

The current three-year contract ends in January and BCM has already paid R2.8m for next year’s event.

Fans from East London, Mdantsane, Dutywa, Mthatha have supported the club throughout