By Monwabisi Jimlongo
The devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa continue to whip sport in the Eastern Cape.
Already, two boxing tournaments, which were going to be held in East London, were postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
And now the pandemic has forced DStv Premiership side Chippa United to swop all their December and January home matches starting with the one against AmaZulu.
The Chilli Boys were due to clash with Usuthu in a DStv Premiership
encounter at Mdantsane’s Sisa Dukashe Stadium in East London on
Sunday, 20 December.
However, the match has since been moved to King’s Park Stadium in Durban and is now Usuthu’s home game.
The Chilli Boys were also set to host Lamontville Golden Arrows (09
January 2021), TS Galaxy (17 January 2021), Black Leopards (24 January 2021) and Mamelodi Sundowns (31 January 2021) in East London and Port Elizabeth.
The Chilli Boys’ set back comes after Rumble Africa Promotions (RAP) and Xaba Promotions called off their boxing tournaments.
RAP’s tournament, which was scheduled for East London’s Orient Theatre on Sunday, 5 December, was called off after the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCCM) closed down all its libraries and municipal halls because of the coronavirus.
And Xaba Promotions’ tournament, which was pencilled for the East London International Convention Centre (ICC) on Saturday, 12 December, was also postponed.
Contacted for comment, the Port Elizabeth-based club’s head of communications Sisa Majola told Ink Sport that the Chilli Boys have a press briefing on Monday, 13 December.
Ink Sport has reliably learnt that Monday’s media briefing is going to deal with the Chilli Boys’ decision regarding December and January home matches.
Meanwhile, the Chilli Boys are preparing for their away match against Orlando Pirates at the Orlando Stadium on Wednesday, 16 December.
