Chippa United boss still hopeful of E Cape deal

DESPITE losing out on playing its matches at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Port Elizabeth, Premier Soccer League (PSL) outfit Chippa United FC has not lost hope of playing its top flight football in the Eastern Cape.

The Western Cape-based club yesterday said it was open to negotiations with any institution willing to bring the club to province.

Maritzburg United FC, currently based in Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu Natal, is moving to Port Elizabeth on a R36-million three-year deal. Maritzburg United started to negotiate with the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro (NMBM) in 2012 while Chippa United negotiations only surfaced recently when it was promoted to the PSL.

Head of the budget and treasury portfolio in NMBM, councillor Balu Naran, said they had agreed to relocate the team at a fee of R12-million a year over the next three years.

Chippa United FC club chairman Siviwe Mpengesi said there would be other plans to bring the club to the province. “We are committed to expanding our footprint to the Eastern Cape.

“We will not be all lost province,” said Mpengesi.

Asked if the club would consider the Buffalo City Metro if they were

in

the to offer a deal, Mpengesi said they would. “We won’t hesitate to look at that. Our move to the province was not about money or competition.”

Metro spokesman Keith Ngesi said the local authority had not received any proposals.

“I don’t know what was their approach in the Bay – we only got to know about their interest through you. As administration, we consult with council on issues of partnerships or major sponsorships. There is nothing happening on ad hoc basis,” said Ngesi.

In a statement released by the club yesterday, Mpengesi said his club was now focussing on their preparations for the upcoming season. —