Pirates to play in Richards Bay

IT’S official!

Thanda Royal Zulu FC will play their Nedbank Cup last 32 match against mighty first tier giants Orlando Pirates on Saturday 22 February…at the uMhlathuze Stadium.

After fears that public demand for tickets might see the game moved to Moses Mabhida, PSL General Manager  Derek Blanckensee told the Zululand Observer the match would go ahead in Richards Bay ‘provided that officials were satisfied with security arrangements’.

The game will kick off at 2.30pm, an early start as the ground does not have floodlights.

Thanda Chairman Pierre Delvaux lauded the PSL’s decision, saying ‘it will have unparalleled positive spin-offs in boosting rural soccer’.

24 JANUARY 2014

Pirates game poses problems

WILL the uMhlathuze soccer stadium be accepted by the PSL as the venue for Thanda Royal Zulu’s Nedbank Cup clash with Orlando Pirates?
That’s the question on local fans’ lips as they wait with great anticipation for the announcement of the date and venue of the big match.
Two factors count heavily against the game being hosted in Richards Bay.
One is the capacity of the stadium, which at a push could accommodate around 10 000 spectators – far below what would be expected for a fixture of this nature, and which might stretch the safety requirements.
This could be compensated for by making it a ‘ticket only’ affair.
The other is the standard of the facility itself.
When Thanda were in the throes of promotion to the PSL last year, assurance was given in April that the City of uMhlathuze was in favourable negotiations with the provincial Department of Sport and Recreation for the necessary funding for the upgrade of the stadium to meet PSL criteria.
Lack of floodlighting and limited seating were seen as the major shortcomings.
However, when the promotion bid failed, the upgrading was put on hold.
But Thanda chairman Pierre Delvaux believes the match must go ahead on home turf, not in Durban, especially in the interests of giving disadvantaged communities the prospect of seeing soccer at this level.

In an impassioned written appeal to PSL General Manager, Derek Blanckensee, Delvaux said: ‘By having the game in Richards Bay at the home ground of Thanda, it would add significant impetus to the goal of bringing the game closer to the rural areas…and it would allow not only the club, but its supporters, sponsors, the local Municipality as well as local business an opportunity to support the match and benefit from having a great team such as Orlando Pirates play in Zululand’.

Blanckensee told the Zululand Observer that the games would probably be played on 22 or 23 February and that Thanda’s request for hosting the game in Richards Bay was receiving due consideration.

*Meanwhile, rumour has it that a Pirates delegation will visit eSikhaleni on Friday this week with a view to forming a local branch of their supporters club.