CHIPPA United s relationship with the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality is strained, club boss Siviwe Chippa Mpengesi told Sunday World.

The two parties joined forces in 2014 after the Chilli Boys moved their home matches from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth s Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. At the time, it was revealed the contract was worth R36-million over three years.

This week, the PSL approved at least two Chippa matches to be played at East London s Buffalo City Stadium due to strained relationship.

Although Mpengesi insisted that Mandela Bay remained their home, he said the parties were not on good terms.

There are things we need to resolve about the costs, he said. They want to deduct the hosting costs from the money they are paying us. But to host a game at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium is R300 000.

As an example, the last game we played there against Bidvest Wits, less than 100 people bought the tickets. So, the money we got from ticket revenues is less than R20 000.

To charge R300 000 for security and cleaning is very expensive, thus we are asking the municipality to absorb the costs,” Mpengesi said.

The new mayor hopes to help us resolve it... By having Chippa United, there is value for them in marketing the municipality. So, they cannot expect me to pay for that.”

But the businessman, who also owns security and waste management companies, believes the two parties will reach an understanding soon.

Attempts to get comment from the municipality were in vain at the time of going to print.

Meanwhile, Chippa United s suspended head coach Roger Sikhakhane is set to report the club to the PSL s Dispute Resolution Chamber on Monday, his agent Abbie Rasimphi said on Friday.

Sikhakhane s suspension was confirmed on December 8 last year.