Chippa United move to PE is on
IT'S official – PSL team Chippa United will be bringing topflight soccer to Nelson Mandela Bay when they relocate from Cape Town before this season's premier division competition starts in August.
Even though some role players were still unclear about the move, most people were excited, especially team owner Siviwe "Chippa" Mpengesi.
"We are moving to Port Elizabeth. The municipality will probably announce the move officially later this week, but I can tell you we are coming to Nelson Mandela Bay," he said last night.
Chippa chief executive Peter Koutroulis said the team would make a formal announcement from its side today, a little more than a month after the club released a statement on May 17 saying Chippa had turned down the lucrative offer from the municipality to relocate to Port Elizabeth.
But Koutroulis said yesterday: "The move has been a long story and was never entirely called off.
"Another club [Maritzburg United] was also interested, but has pulled out. And, of course, we are in now."
Rumours of Maritzburg's decision not to move had been circulating for some time, but it was announced officially on their website yesterday.
Koutroulis confirmed that the club's move had been expedited by Mpengesi's unhappiness about a lack of financial support in the Western Cape.
"We're not just talking about the government, but companies also.
"We have made it clear that without money you cannot run a soccer club.
"Nobody has come to the party to help the club with a sponsor, so what must we do? If somebody comes and says, 'Here is the money, come play here', you can't say no."
Safa Nelson Mandela Bay president Monde Mhletywa said the association had always liked the idea of bringing Chippa United to the city.
"Chippa United have clear plans for the development of the game in our region, and to help our local players reach top-flight soccer.
"They are a good side who have played in the PSL before and will be re-entering the league this season after winning last year's first division."
Access Management, which runs the Nelson Mandela Bay stadium, said even though it had not had official confirmation about the move, it relished the opportunity to have a soccer team using the facilities.
Access Management chief executive Chantal du Pisani said: "We have always looked forward to accommodating a soccer team, and our team at the stadium will be ready if Chippa are coming our way."
Municipal spokesman Mthubanzi Mniki said he was unaware of a final decision to relocate Chippa United to Port Elizabeth, but bringing soccer to the Bay had always been part of a plan.
"Having any team here would bring a massive economic boost to our city, and it would go a long way in promoting the city." The only concern was a statement by Koutroulis that games will be split between Port Elizabeth and an unconfirmed venue in the Free State.
According to the club, 10 games would be played in the Bay while five would go elsewhere.
Mhletywa said he was not aware of this part of the agreement and officials would have to renegotiate if the club planned on playing some matches outside Port Elizabeth.
"We want a total relocation. We have already made plans to have some smaller games played at the Wolfson Stadium in Motherwell, or at the Gelvandale Stadium – to spare ourselves the embarrassment when our new side does not fill the NMB Stadium, and to take the games to fans who cannot travel to the bigger stadium.
"So there is no reason why any games should be moved to Free State."
Mpengesi said the team were looking at maybe playing some games outside Nelson Mandela Bay, and that it would at most be three games, but nothing had been finalised yet.
PSL football general manager Derek Blanckensee said in terms of the rules, Chippa would be able to relocate if they received permission from the league's executive committee.
"Every team can name two venues – their home ground and an alternate venue. As long as Chippa gets permission, it can go ahead and relocate," Blanckensee said. - Riaan Marais and Marc Strydom
