Chippa eye R10m PE move
Chilli Boys keep Cape Town at Bay but will add spice in top-flight Draw all but ends Blues’ title hopes
CJOHN GOLIATH APE Town welcomed Chippa United back to the Premiership with lots of pomp and ceremony at a wet and windy Athlone Stadium yesterday.
Even Western Cape Premier Helen Zille took some time out from her last-minute campaigning to hand over the National First Division trophy, but the city may still only have one team in the Premiership next season.
Chilli Boys’ chairman Chippa Mpengesi said after the trophy presentation that he could move his team to Port Elizabeth next season.
Mpengesi confirmed that they are in talks with the Eastern Cape government, the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality and a consortium of businessmen to move the team to the Bay.
This would be a massive blow for Cape Town, with Ajax Cape Town currently the only topflight team based in the city.
“A PSL team is an asset. We have played in Cape Town before, but now we feel we can play anywhere,” Mpengesi said yesterday, his gold medal around his neck gleaming in the light of the auditorium.
“For now I must confirm that there are talks with people in Port Elizabeth.
“I’m sentimental about Cape Town, here where everything started. I have a big investment in Philippi Stadium, but what is offered to me … I have to take a business decision versus my emotions.”
Mpengesi said the offer on the table is for a permanent move. In the past, teams like Santos, Kaizer Chiefs and Maritzburg United have been offered money to play a selection of their home games in Port Elizabeth.
The Eastern Cape hasn’t had a side in the top flight since Bay United were relegated at the end of the 2009 campaign.
The Chilli Boys’ chairman has invested plenty of “my own money” into the club over the last few years, and speculation is rife the deal to move to the club to Eastern Cape could be worth more than R10-million.
“Operating a PSL team requires money,” the chairman said.
“I have used my money most of the time. So that’s why I say I have to take a decision, whether I keep using my own money or commercialise it and make a profit.”
Heavy blows were also felt on the field for Cape Town’s other NFD teams yesterday, with Santos’ 3-3 draw with Chippa effectively ruling out their chances to make it to the promotion-relegation play-offs.
Milano United also find themselves outside the play-off positions after they were held to a goalless draw by United FC at the Moruleng Stadium in the North West yesterday.
Baroka FC are now in second place after beating Vasco da Gama 5-2 in Parow yesterday, while Black Leopards also moved up to third following a 2-1 win over FC Cape Town away from home.
Milano play Chippa in the last round of fixtures at the Grassy Park Sports complex, and they will be hoping the Chilli Boys are still hungover after loud celebrations following their penultimate match against Santos yesterday.
Baroka can book their place in the play-offs with a win against Thanda Royal Zulu at home, while Leopards face a tricky match against fifth-placed Jomo Cosmos, who can also still sneak into the play-offs with a win. FINAL FIXTURES Sunday, May 11 all at 3pm Santos v Blackburn Rovers, Jomo Cosmos v Black Leopards, Witbank Spurs v Vasco Da Gama, FC Cape Town v United FC, Roses United v Maluti FET College K, African Warriors v Sivutsa Stars, Milano United AFC v Chippa United, Baroka FC v Thanda Royal Zulu FC
Standings
P Chippa 29 Baroka FC 29 Leopards 29 Milano 29 Cosmos 29 Santos 29 United FC 29 Warriors 29 Vasco 29 Thanda 29 Spurs 29 Cape Town29 Sivutsa 29 Maluti 29 Roses 29 Blackburn 29 W D 17 7 14 7 13 8 13 8 12 10 10 14 11 9 12 5 11 8 9 10 9 9 8 10 7 12 6 11 4 10 4 6 L 5 8 8 8 7 5 9 12 10 10 11 11 10 12 15 19
F 52 44 51 38 32 31 44 41 32 32 31 35 26 43 21 22 A Pts 33 58 32 49 37 47 24 47 23 46 25 44 30 42 39 41 34 41 40 37 39 36 41 34 34 33 58 29 41 22 45 18 LONDON: Arsenal celebrated their Champions League qualification as Olivier Giroud secured a 1-0 win against West Bromwich Albion yesterday.
And Norwich City all but ended Chelsea’s Premier League title challenge and gave themselves a fighting chance of avoiding relegation by recording a 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea would have provisionally gone top of the table if they had won, but they will now be eliminated from the title race if either Manchester City or Liverpool win one of their last two games.
Liverpool visit Crystal Palace today, while leaders City play their game in hand at home to Aston Villa on Wednesday.
Arsene Wenger’s booked their in Europe’s elite club competition without kicking a ball when fifthplaced Everton were beaten 3-2 by Manchester City on Saturday.
And 24 hours later, Giroud’s firsthalf header maintained the feelgood factor at the Emirates Stadium and capped a stroll in the sunshine for the Gunners, who were rarely troubled en route to a fourth successive victory.
After looking in severe danger of missing out on the Champions League for the first time in 17 years following their defeat at Everton last month, there was a palpable sense of relief in north London that Arsenal had wrapped up fourth place with two games to spare.
“It was a bit subdued, maybe, because we already knew we were in the top four, but we were serious and wanted to finish with a win,” Wenger said.
“I believe the mentality of the team was outstanding to finish in the top four. You can be pleased with the attitude, but frustrated because we were top of the league for 128 days then we dropped off.”
Albion boss Pepe Mel added: “We did enough to get a point, but I was disappointed with the goal. When you play against the big teams you simply cannot concede from set pieces.”
With influential midfielder Aaron Ramsey sidelined by a thigh injury and Arsenal’s Champions League mission already complete, it would have been no surprise to see the Gunners go through the motions.
But the incentive of nailing down places in the team for the FA Cup final against Hull on May 17 ensured there was sufficient spark to Arsenal’s play and they quickly forced Albion on to the back foot.
Giroud’s 22nd goal of the season should have acted as a wake-up call for lethargic Albion, but instead another defensive error, this time from Diego Lugano, almost led to a second goal.
With the points in the bag, the celebratory mood continued after the final whistle as Arsenal’s players marked their final home game of the season with a lap of honour featuring chants from fans for French rightback Bacary Sagna to ignore reported interest from Manchester City and sign a new contract.
It was a further blow for José Mourinho’s side after their elimination in the Champions League semi-finals by Atletico Madrid, although they are now assured of an automatic place in next season’s tournament.
“We had one team that needed three points to have a chance to survive, but didn’t play to win, and a team that needed a point to finish third and guarantee a Champions League group-stage place that played to win,” said Mourinho.
“I said the title chance had been gone for a few weeks. Today was a question of pride and trying to give fans a victory at home.” – Sapa-AFP