Chippa’s match against Richards Bay moved to Wits Stadium
Chippa United will be without homeground advantage in their last DStv Premiership clash before the international break, against Richards Bay United at Wits Stadium on October 30.
The match was scheduled for the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium but moved to Wits Stadium.
It is the second consecutive home match moved to a neutral venue after their match against Sekhukhune United on Tuesday was moved to Chatsworth Stadium in KwaZulu-Natal.
According to the club’s CEO, Lukhanyo Mzinzi renovations at the NMB Stadium triggered the moves.
“The Nelson Mandela Stadium is under renovation, hence we will play Richards Bay at Wits Stadium,” Mzinzi said.
“When we were supposed to play them in East London Sisa Dukashe was stripped of their licence to host matches.
“We were also supposed to play Sekhukhune in East London but the PSL then took a decision for us to play in Durban. The renovations at Nelson Mandela Stadium will be done when the international break ends.”
The NMB Stadium has been the Chilli Boy’s go-to stadium after Sisa Dukashe was stripped of its right to host the club’s matches, since the complex did not meet the required standards of the Premier Soccer League.
Chippa have a 20-year lease to rent the Buffalo City Stadium and the Jan Smuts Stadium, however, Chippa have not played at the grounds due to the facilities being vandalised.
However, Mzinzi said the club was working to bring matches back to the BCM Stadium next season.
“The PSL is going to check BCM Stadium; we are doing everything to make sure the stadium is compliant and up to the standard it was before it was vandalised,” Mzinzi said.
“It was our first stadium and was the best stadium in terms of lighting at one point and we want to bring that back,” he said.
Chippa are in good form after they won their past league matches against Kaizer Chiefs, Marumo Gallants and Sekhukhune United.
They are positioned in sixth place in the DStv Premiership table and trail log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns by five points with a game in hand over three of the teams above them.
They might move to the third spot on the log if they beat Cape Town City on Tuesday and might move up the ladder if they defeat Richards Bay.
Chippa’s remaining DStv Premiership home fixtures are Cape Town City (January 14), Maritzburg United (January 29), Stellenbosch (February 4) Swallows (February 26), AmaZulu (March 5), SuperSport United (April 1), Orlando Pirates (April 10), Kaizer Chiefs (April 27) and Golden Arrows (May 20).