Chippa United has officially dismissed speculation of relocating their high-profile Betway Premiership fixture against Kaizer Chiefs to East London. The match will take place on November 28 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, marking the official reopening of the venue following over six months of extensive pitch resurfacing. This development comes as the Chilli Boys aim to solidify both local fan support and long-term municipal backing.
The Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium has undergone significant renovations, particularly to its pitch, which had necessitated Chippa United to stage major home clashes against Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates at alternative venues. The club's chair, Siviwe Mpengesi, hopes that staging the encounter in Gqeberha will encourage the incoming council to finalise a long-term partnership, which has been a subject of uncertainty.
During the turf refurbishment, Chippa's marquee fixtures were moved to other locations, with the clash against Sundowns staged at the Buffalo City Stadium and the match against Orlando Pirates played at the Kings Park Stadium in Durban. Despite this, Chippa United has confirmed that they will return to the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium for the much-anticipated encounter against Kaizer Chiefs.
The Buffalo City Stadium had emerged as a possible alternative venue due to uncertainty surrounding Chippa United's future relationship with the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality. Chippa has a three-year agreement with the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, worth millions of rands, which is still active and entails bringing seven Premier Soccer League games to the metro.
Siviwe Mpengesi mentioned that a recommendation to extend the partnership with Nelson Mandela Bay for another three years could not be finalised before the outgoing council concluded its term. Despite the uncertainty, Mpengesi confirmed that the club will honour this fixture in the hope that the incoming council will prioritise and conclude a sustainable long-term agreement with the club.
The match against Kaizer Chiefs will take place following a three-week Fifa international break, with Chippa United approaching the encounter with renewed confidence after recording their second league victory of the season with a 2-0 win over Stellenbosch FC. Chippa currently occupies seventh position on the league standings with 11 points, while Kaizer Chiefs are fifth with 14 points.
The Nelson Mandela Bay Development Agency's interim chief executive, Pierre Voges, commended the stadium team for their commitment to maintaining a world-class stadium, highlighting that hosting matches of this calibre creates opportunities for local businesses, stimulates tourism and hospitality, and contributes to the local economy.
Key points
- The match between Chippa United and Kaizer Chiefs will be held at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on November 28.
- The stadium has undergone over six months of renovations, particularly to its pitch.
- Chippa United aims to solidify local fan support and secure a long-term municipal partnership with the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality.
