The Premier Soccer League (PSL) is faced with a major ground crisis as the high-profiled Premier League and Absa Cup competitions approach a grandstand climax.
This was announced on Monday by PSL CEO Trevor Phillips, who revealed that six of the Premier League clubs, Mamelodi Sundowns, Moroka Swallows, Jomo Cosmos, Santos, Ajax Cape Town and Silver Stars, are currently labouring without the use of their delegated home grounds.
Phillips also confirmed that what is being billed as a possible showdown for the Premier League title between Sundowns and Orlando Pirates at Loftus on May 13 could become ”a showpiece without a venue”.
”Because the owners of Loftus are working on the pitch during a break in the Blue Bulls’ rugby programme,” explained the PSL CEO, ”Sundowns have had to move their major games to the Super Stadium in Atteridgeville.
”Such is the looming interest and importance of the Sundowns-Pirates clash,” added Phillips, ”that we have been pinning our hopes on Loftus being available again for this potentially explosive decider. But it’s touch-and-go at this stage.”
Phillips said the stadium crisis could also affect the Absa Cup semifinals, depending on the draw, which is due to be held at the Carlton Centre in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
”The ground situation is critical in Cape Town,” said the Phillips. ”We were almost faced with the situation whereby there could have been no suitable stadium for the Absa Cup quarterfinal between Hanover Park and Orlando Pirates on Sunday. The game was finally billeted for the Green Point Stadium, which is hardly in a condition to host a major soccer game at the moment.”
”Neither of the Cape Town Premier League clubs, Ajax and Santos, can claim to have a home ground of their own at this time,” added Phillips, ”and Ajax have been forced to switch matches to Kimberley.”
Moroka Swallows and Jomo Cosmos, who were originally scheduled to use the Rand Stadium as a home venue this season, have become veritable soccer nomads as the Johannesburg authorities concerned continue to mismanage and misuse a venue that was once the headquarters of South African soccer.
And Silver Stars’ relocation to the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg has not been the bed of roses the club’s officials had anticipated.
”For a country due to stage the World Cup, this is a sad state of affairs,” said Phillips. — Sapa