Kaizer Chiefs match moved to Moses Mabhida Stadium

The Betway Premiership meeting between Kaizer Chiefs and Siwelele will take place at Moses Mabhida Stadium on 5 September, after the venue change from Royal Bafokeng Stadium was confirmed.

The fixture had originally been scheduled for the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in the North West. However, Moses Mabhida Stadium announced on its social media page that it would host the match instead.

The decision means the Durban stadium will reopen for football with the Chiefs-Siwelele encounter. Moses Mabhida Stadium has not staged a match during the current season because it has been undergoing renovations.

The venue is one of South Africa’s most recognisable stadiums and hosted matches during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Its return to use will provide the setting for next week’s Betway Premiership clash, following the completion of the renovation work.

Kaizer Chiefs had also been expected to play their recent fixture against Richards Bay at Moses Mabhida Stadium. That match, however, was moved to Princess Magogo Stadium after the municipality and the club decided against rushing the venue back into operation.

The latest confirmation settles the location for the Chiefs-Siwelele fixture and marks the first match at Moses Mabhida Stadium this season. The change also begins a busy period for the Durban venue, which is scheduled to host further high-profile matches after its reopening.

Busy schedule after reopening

Durban City will use Moses Mabhida Stadium for the first leg of their CAF Confederation Cup first preliminary round tie against Rukinzo FC.

A week after that fixture, AmaZulu are due to welcome Marumo Gallants at the Durban venue.

Moses Mabhida Stadium will therefore stage three matches during a short period, beginning with the Betway Premiership meeting involving Kaizer Chiefs and Siwelele. The first of those fixtures will also serve as the stadium’s return to competitive football after its renovations.

The venue change was initially prompted by the stadium’s unavailability while the work was being carried out. Although Chiefs’ match against Richards Bay had been linked with a return to Moses Mabhida Stadium, the municipality and the club chose to move that game to Princess Magogo Stadium rather than bring the Durban ground back into service prematurely.

With the latest announcement, the stadium is now confirmed to host its first match of the season when Kaizer Chiefs face Siwelele on 5 September. The encounter was previously due to be played at Royal Bafokeng Stadium in the North West.