Chippa United have withdrawn from the Home of Legends Cup scheduled to be played at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha on Saturday next week.
The Chilli Boys cited unequal treatment from the Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA) behind their withdrawal from the four-team tournament featuring Mamelodi Sundowns, Kaizer Chiefs and Lamontville Golden Arrows.
In a statement released on Tuesday afternoon, the Chilli Boys said: “We are disheartened with the lack of transparency in the planning of the event. Despite our openness to collaborate and compromise considering the high profile teams involved – the agency’s CEO Anele Qaba has shown a disappointing reluctance to engage with us.”
The statement added: “One of our primary concerns is the unequal treatment in the distribution of funds and resources for this event. While other three teams are offered fair compensation for participating, Chippa United FC was not offered the same participation fee. Our attempts to address these concerns were dismissed with Mr Qaba suggesting we should withdraw if we are not happy with the terms. We have decided to step back from this tournament.”
The tournament, which has the full backing of the Eastern Cape Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture (DSRAC), was brought into question after former professional footballer Sipho Ndzuzo had gone public saying that the organisers had stolen his idea.
Ndzuzo, who played for Ajax Cape Town, Mamelodi Sundowns, Manning Rangers and Mthatha Bucks, said: “I have Instructed my lawyers to serve the letter of demand to the NMBM. Letter has been delivered by the sheriff of the court. They have up until this Friday to respond.”
The 52-year-old Ndzuzo has, however, made it clear that he has no plans to force the scrapping of the tournament.
“To be honest, my intentions are not to stop this tournament, but for them to acknowledge what I have done. My previous letter was to ask for intervention to amicably sit and solve the issue,” he said.
“Now it’s time for the municipality to answer or else court is waiting. Government and its officials need to be held accountable for their actions. Dishonest and corrupt individuals must not take office.”
