Triumph sours for uthongathi club

WHEN the uthongathi Football Club was promoted from ABC Motsepe league to the National First Division (NFD), it was seen as a triumph and a great opportunity to uplift the small town of Tongaat, north of Durban.

But this may not be achievable after the South African Football Association (Safa) informed the club that their home ground, Walton Park Stadium, did not meet Safa’s field requirements standard for the first-division league. What this means is that the club and its supporters, most of whom were Tongaat residents, would have to travel to Kwamashu’s Princess Magogo stadium for the club’s home games.

This has led to the team’s directors, supporters and emerging businessmen pleading with the ethekwini municipality to upgrade the local sports field to meet Safa’s standard to host NFD official matches.

uthongathi FC spokesperson Nkosinathi Chili confirmed they would be playing all their home games at Princess Magogo stadium. He said supporters were disappointed about the decision, but there were no alternatives. He added that before their promotion to the first division, ethekwini mayor Zandile Gumede promised to upgrade Walton Park stadium as their home ground to meet Safa requirements.

Among the proposed upgrades were extension of grandstands, lights, fencing and an appropriate water drainage system.

He said the city was still going to do a feasibility study to determine the required budget: “While we are still making an effort to get our home ground upgraded, we will use Princess Magogo Stadium.

“We feel for uthongathi residents, who have been supporting the team for years, because it feels like we have abandoned them. They have seen the team doing well in pre-season games and they want it to come back.

“We hope we will be able to find solutions and get back home,” he said.

Chili said this would disadvantage informal traders who sell fruit and drinks at the stadium.

“Supporters will have to pay more money for transport, for both home and away games, including players’ transport, while other teams enjoy the privilege of playing at home,” he added.

uthongathi will host Royal Eagles in their first division debut at Princess Magogo stadium. Chili said they would provide transport for all supporters to watch the first match.

He said the team had no sponsors at the moment, so taking games to Kwamashu added cost to both them and their supporters.

Mayoral spokesperson Mthunzi Gumede said they will follow up the matter and consult with all relevant stakeholders for intervention.

“The mayor might have made the promise, but there are processes that need to be followed, which may take time.

“We want to help all local clubs to ensure that their supporters walk to the stadium to support their teams when playing home games,” Gumede added.

“In Hammarsdale, we have a similar problem. We will engage the Department of Sport and Recreation to find a permanent solution,” he said.