By Monwabisi Jimlongo
Chippa United are set to relinquish the control of the Buffalo City Stadium in East London and let the Buffalo City Metropolitan Development Agency (BCMDA) take over if talks between them are successful.
And in all likelihood, football followers from East London and surrounding areas are going to get a chance to watch Premier Division matches right at their doorsteps next season as the Buffalo City Stadium is coming up nicely even though the Premier Soccer League (PSL) is yet to give greenlight for the return of top-flight football to the venue.
Chilli Boys executive director Lukanyo Mzinzi visited East London last week to check progress at the Buffalo City Stadium. Mzinzi is happy with what he saw as they want to play their first match at the Buffalo City Stadium more than six years since they turned their backs on the venue and went on to use Mdantsane’s Sisa Dukashe Stadium, which unfortunately failed a PSL test last season.
“We are still in control at the stadium and we only need to fix the floodlights now. There are talks that we might return the stadium to the Buffalo City Metro through BCMDA. The fact that we are talking has not stopped us from continuing with renovations at the stadium. We are positive that we will return to play some of our at the Buffalo City Stadium next season,” Mzinzi revealed.
The Chilli Boys started to play some of their home games at the Buffalo City Stadium during the 2015/16 season before they moved away from the venue to go play at Mdantsane’s Sisa Dukashe Stadium.
Meanwhile, the Chilli Boys have made their intentions clear as they continue to strengthentheir squad ahead of the season signing Craig Martin, Augustine Mulenga, Menzi Ndwandwe and Luvuyo Memela.
Martin joined the Gqeberha-based club from Orlando Pirates, Mulenga was signed from Zambian Super League side NAPSA Stars with Ndwandwe having been on the books of All Stars last season and Memela was a free agent after he was released by Richards Bay FC.
