AmaZulu’s plans to play more home matches at Harry Gwala Stadium stall

AmaZulu CEO Sinenjabulo Zungu-Ntuli says the club’s plans to stage additional home fixtures at Harry Gwala Stadium in Pietermaritzburg have not come to fruition.

The Durban-based club had explored the possibility of taking selected matches to the venue after president Sandile Zungu revealed last season that AmaZulu had held discussions with Msunduzi Municipality.

AmaZulu have faced a shortage of regular home venues this season while reconstruction work continues at Moses Mabhida Stadium. The club have consequently hosted some matches at Harry Gwala Stadium and Kings Park Stadium.

However, Zungu-Ntuli has confirmed that the arrangements for further fixtures at Harry Gwala Stadium did not succeed, although she has not ruled out the possibility of AmaZulu playing there in future.

“We had talks with Harry Gwala, we had an intention to play there because we do have a lot of fans in Pietermaritzburg,” Zungu-Ntuli told Ukhozi FM.

“I think as KZN, we have to move around places where we know that we have fans. I think even Pietermaritzburg people do want football because it’s been a while since they had it.

“We wish to play at Harry Gwala Stadium but the plans we had with them didn’t succeed but whether or not we’re going to play there, we’re still going to see.

“This season, we have Moses Mabhida Stadium, Princess Magogo Stadium and Kings Park as our home stadiums.”

AmaZulu’s interest in Pietermaritzburg is partly linked to the support they believe they have in the area. Zungu-Ntuli said the club wanted to take matches to places across KwaZulu-Natal where it has an established fan base, while also noting that Pietermaritzburg had not hosted football for some time.

For now, the club’s listed home grounds are Moses Mabhida Stadium, Princess Magogo Stadium and Kings Park. Harry Gwala Stadium has been used by AmaZulu during the current season, but the CEO said the proposed plans for more matches at the venue had not been completed.

The club’s venue situation remains connected to the reconstruction of Moses Mabhida Stadium, which has affected where AmaZulu can host their home fixtures.