PSL stadiums race to meet standards after venue red cards

Several Premier Soccer League (PSL) clubs have been forced to move home matches this season, but stadium managers insist their grounds are now ready to host top-flight football after concerns over pitch quality.

As many as six PSL teams began the campaign uncertain about where they would play their home fixtures, despite South Africa having hosted the 2010 Fifa World Cup. Sekhukhune United, AmaZulu, Stellenbosch, Richards Bay and Chippa United were among those affected after the league ruled that their preferred venues were unsuitable, largely because of inadequate playing surfaces.

Stadium officials have since told Sowetan that remedial work has been completed or is nearing completion, with several venues awaiting final approval from the PSL.

Kaizer Chiefs are the latest club to face a temporary relocation. Their usual home stadium has been booked for next weekend’s Springboks-All Blacks match, meaning Chiefs must find an alternative venue for their league meeting with Siwelele on 5 September.

Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium is being considered for that fixture, although the venue still requires formal clearance from the PSL.

Sijabulile Ntuli, the stadium’s manager, said the refurbishment work requested by the league had been carried out and that an agreement had been reached with Chiefs.

“We’re good now. We’ve an agreement with Chiefs; they are bringing their game against Siwelele to Mabhida … it’s confirmed between us,” Ntuli said.

“However, everything depends on the PSL signing everything off and being happy. We are confident that everything is okay now.”

Moses Mabhida has not staged a match this season, despite photographs circulating publicly that appeared to show the pitch in excellent condition. Ntuli said the stadium had remained open while engineers worked on its roof.

“The reason … is that the stadium has been under maintenance, but it hasn’t been closed. The engineers advised that games can be played during construction.

“We were still doing major work on the roof, but now we agreed that we will pause that process when there are games since the pitch is now ready. You can’t do roofing while there’s a game.”

Richards Bay, whose regular venue in Umhlathuze is currently prohibited from hosting matches, were scheduled to play Chiefs at Princess Magogo Stadium on Wednesday rather than Moses Mabhida.

However, the KwaMashu pitch appeared to be in considerably worse condition than the surface at Richards Bay’s banned home ground. Princess Magogo Stadium has not hosted a professional match for five years.

AmaZulu, the main tenants of Moses Mabhida Stadium, have also had to move their home fixtures to nearby Kings Park Stadium.

Chippa United were similarly required to use a different venue after both Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha and Buffalo City Stadium in KuGompo underwent pitch rehabilitation. The club confirmed on Tuesday that the PSL had approved both grounds for future matches.

PSL chief operating officer Ronnie Schloss said the issue had been caused by the condition of the pitches.

“The basic problem was that the pitches weren’t up to standard.”

Sekhukhune United were forced to use Seshego Stadium and the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium while work was carried out at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium.

Mantlako Sebaka, sports manager for Polokwane municipality, said the field at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium had now been restored.

“The pitch is ready for PSL matches, but we will wait for them to give it the go-ahead,” Sebaka said.

The PSL’s online fixture listing still names Royal Bafokeng Stadium as the venue for the Chiefs-Siwelele match. However, Emile Smith, acting managing director of Royal Bafokeng Sports, said on Thursday that the game was unlikely to take place at the Rustenburg World Cup venue.

Marumo Gallants, who have registered Royal Bafokeng Stadium as their home ground, are due to host Polokwane City there the previous day.