City threaten to leave Cape

John Comitis says he may have to move Cape Town City FC (CTC FC) to another province because of the lack of support he is getting from the Mother City’s authorities.

Comitis (below) is clearly furious at a lack of availability for home matches at City’s first choice stadium, the Cape Town Stadium, adding that the pitch at their second-choice, Athlone Stadium, is not up to scratch.

CTC FC lost 1-0 at home to Bloemfontein Celtic at Athlone Stadium in the Absa Premiership, on Tuesday night.

The CTC FC owner also says the side do not have a functional pitch to train on at the moment, saying the rugby pitch they usually use at Greenpoint Stadium is now being booked out for “festivals”.

“At the moment, things are not looking good, a year later I am being given the same spiel (by the city) and there is no better situation,” Comitis told The Citizen yesterday.

“At some point I will have to think about what I am going to do with this franchise. At the end of the day how can you manage a professional club with no facilities. Maybe we must move it to where we are welcome, I understand now why Chippa moved (Chippa United relocated to Port Elizabeth from Cape Town in 2014).”

At the moment, Comitis believes his side have only “two” home games that they can play at Cape Town Stadium this season, though several more have been scheduled by the Premier Soccer League. The CTC FC owner says he has no venue for City’s home league game against Baroka FC on November 22.

“The entire stadium is booked out for events except football during the festive stadium. At the end of the day, it is a football stadium, and we are not able to book it,” added Comitis.

“Maybe we will end up playing it (the Baroka game) at Baroka, that is the only way I can make a statement to the City.”