Richards Bay move Kaizer Chiefs match as Moses Mabhida repairs take longer

Richards Bay have moved their Betway Premiership match against Kaizer Chiefs from Moses Mabhida Stadium to Princess Magogo Stadium because repair work at the Durban venue has taken longer than expected.

The Natal Rich Boyz are due to host Amakhosi on Wednesday, 26 August, in an evening kick-off. The fixture was originally scheduled to be played at Moses Mabhida Stadium, but it will now take place in KwaMashu.

Richards Bay chairman Jomo Biyela said the decision was made after discussions about the work still required at Moses Mabhida Stadium. The club, he explained, did not want to rush the venue back into use before the necessary repairs had been completed.

“We had to change because in the meeting, it was discussed that we must not rush this venue because there’s something that needs to be fixed,” said Biyela.

The change was also made with Richards Bay’s future fixtures in mind, as the club expects to need Moses Mabhida Stadium for upcoming matches.

“We are going to need this venue for the upcoming matches. So, we thought it’s important to move the match to another venue here in Durban.”

The chairman rejected any suggestion that the pitch at Moses Mabhida Stadium was in a poor condition. When asked whether it was as bad as the surface at uMhlathuze Sports Complex, Biyela said the field remained in good shape, but the planned repair programme had been disrupted.

“No, it’s still in good condition, it’s just that there was a duration that had been placed that the stadium for the ongoing programme to be fixed.

“But we all saw the weather in the past days in Durban, that work had to be halted.

“What we can say, we would like to apologise to the football fans. We also know how much the club that we will play against is supported.

“What’s important is that the match remains in Durban.”

The fixture will therefore remain in the city despite the change of stadium. Richards Bay have apologised to supporters for the alteration, particularly given the strong following enjoyed by Kaizer Chiefs.

Moses Mabhida Stadium’s ongoing work will continue, with the club opting to wait until the required repairs are fully completed rather than bringing the venue back into use prematurely.

The move means Princess Magogo Stadium will host one of the Betway Premiership’s most anticipated fixtures on the evening of 26 August, with Richards Bay facing Kaizer Chiefs in KwaMashu instead of at the originally selected venue.