‘Chippa games will go ahead’
Buffalo City says Bay threat of court interdict will not stop it hosting Chilli Boys’ PSL fixtures
THE Buffalo City Metro (BCM) Municipality will go ahead as planned in hosting Chippa United’s PSL fixtures, regardless of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality taking legal action against the club to prevent them from playing in East London.
Acting city boss Johann Mettler confirmed last night that the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality had applied for a court interdict against Chippa United to prevent them from playing any further matches in Buffalo City.
But BCM local organising committee chairman Stembile Khanyile said the Bay’s actions had no bearing on the Chippa matches scheduled to kick off in East London over the next few months.
Khanyile said it was business as usual in East London and the committee preparations, maintenance and servicing of the pitch were continuing.
“We have signed a contract with Chippa United FC to bring them to play some of their games in Buffalo City,” he said.
“Chippa have been honouring that commitment and we have a letter from the PSL indicating the matches that will be played at the Buffalo City Stadium.
“The issue of Chippa playing some of their games outside of the NMB stadium is found in the contract between Chippa and Access Management.
“The contract stipulates clearly that Chippa can play some of their games outside of the Bay.
“They [Chippa] invoked that clause when they approached Buffalo City to say: ‘We have matches that we can play outside of the NMB, would you be interested in hosting us?’.
“Any team would want to grow its support base and the only way to do that is to move and explore different venues where it can play,” Khanyile said.
“This is a football issue. It has nothing to do with local government trying to run a club.
“Nelson Mandela Bay has no contract with the PSL, just like the Buffalo City Municipality.”
He said the following Chippa matches were approved by the PSL and would take place in East London:
- March 6, versus Baroka FC (Nedbank Cup);
- March 13, versus Maritzburg United;
- April 27, versus Platinum Stars;
- May 7, versus Golden Arrows; and
- May 11, versus Orlando Pirates. The Bay has only hosted one league game this year, against Bidvest Wits last month.
According to the metro, Chippa’s last two league fixtures played at the Buffalo City Stadium – against Ajax Cape Town and Jomo Cosmos – were in breach of the city’s agreement with the team.
Sports, recreation, arts and culture executive director Noxolo Nqwazi reported to the portfolio committee on Tuesday that she had only become aware of Chippa’s plans to play in East London through a soccer magazine article in December.
Chippa United chief operations officer Lukhanyo Mzinzi said he was surprised the municipality was not aware of the team moving some of their home matches to East London.
He said their contract stated the team had to play a minimum of 10 games at the NMB stadium.
Khanyile said soccer was administered by the Premier Soccer League and the SA Football Association, not by local government.
Asked if the BCM had plans to snatch Chippa away from the Bay, Khanyile said: “The city has positioned itself to be a sports destination of choice.
“Yes, Buffalo City is looking forward to having a full-time PSL team as part of our metro group and development strategy for 2030.
“Chippa is assisting us achieve our vision.
“Our relationship with Chippa is not only for this season. It will be growing with each season.”
Mettler said he had met Mzinzi yesterday in a bid to end the impasse.
“A technical committee [made up of officials from] NMBM, Chippa and Access is meeting [this morning],” he said.
“They will conclude a deal that will determine the venue of the future games until the end of the season.
“Pending acceptance, that will constitute a binding agreement between the parties.
“[It] will be made an order of the court.”
Mettler said he anticipated that Chippa would want to play a few games elsewhere.
“I’m trying to reach an out-ofcourt agreement and, if we were to agree, it would then become an order of the court and no one would be able to breach that agreement,” he said.
He said he was expecting the Chilli Boys to put up a fight.
