Moses Mabhida unfazed by local clubs’ stayaway
MOSES Mabhida Stadium management are not bothered that local Absa Premiership sides AmaZulu and Lamontville Golden Arrows have opted against utilising the iconic World Cup venue to host their big matches this season.
Despite being snubbed by these local sides, Mabhida has continued with their reputation of staging A-Category matches. This season they have already hosted the MTN 8 final between SuperSport United and Cape Town City.
Kaizer Chiefs have played three of their 15 home matches in Durban, and will host another humdinger of a match between Chiefs and Free State Stars in the semifinal of the Nedbank Cup on 21 April.
AmaZulu have already hosted Mamelodi Sundowns and Chiefs at King Zwelithini Stadium in Umlazi while Arrows staged their matches against Orlando Pirates and Sundowns at Princess Magogo Stadium in KwaMashu.
The two sides used to take their clashes against the Soweto giants to Moses Mabhida but next Sunday, AmaZulu will welcome Pirates to King Zwelithini for their PSL encounter while Arrows will host Amakhosi in a league outing in KwaMashu on the April 24.
Moses Mabhida Stadium manager Vusi Mazibuko is not bothered by the local clubs decision to stage their matches in townships. “We are not worried. “AmaZulu and Arrows are training at Moses Mabhida. They are using our facilities. Their offices are also at Moses Mabhida. I also manage the stadiums that they are using.
“It is not like they have moved in to another province. So, we are not worried at all,” Mazibuko explained.
Mabhida also hosted Bafana Bafana’s World Cup qualifier against Cape Verdelast year.
“We understand that the clubs want to grow their support base. They want to develop support in townships. We must remember that these two sides got relegated a couple of seasons ago.
“So, they are still growing their brand.Moses Mabhida is their future stadium when they are more comfortable,” He elaborated.
Mabhida penned a threeyear deal to host some of Amakhosi’s home matches at the starts o f the season.