It is no secret that relations between Chippa United, the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium management and City Hall have long been strained.
Years of disagreements, particularly over Chippa’s repeated decision to host games in East London instead of Nelson Mandela Bay, have left tensions simmering. At the heart of the discord was the municipality’s frustration over the perceived lack of return on its R13m annual investment in the club.
So, it came as little surprise when news emerged that Chippa United had quietly left the city last week, relocating to Buffalo City without so much as a courtesy call to the municipality.
Players and staff were instructed to begin packing in preparation for the move, ahead of their fixture against Mamelodi Sundowns in East London last Wednesday.
Neither the municipality nor the Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA), which manages the stadium on the metro’s behalf, was formally notified of the relocation.
Club boss Siviwe Mpengesi later confirmed the move, stating that while Chippa’s head office would now be based in East London, a satellite office would remain in Gqeberha. He noted that executive director Lukhanyo Mzinzi and others would stay behind to manage the club’s local affairs and maintain its relationship with the municipality.
Mpengesi secured a 20-year lease for Buffalo City Stadium in 2023. He insists the club still has a contract in place with the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality until 2026 and plans to honour it, albeit partly.
“We will play more games in East London,” he said, “but will still keep the big games in Gqeberha.”
According to a municipal official, Mpengesi’s proposal includes hosting just three high-profile matches in Gqeberha, with the remaining 12 home fixtures taking place in East London. However, this plan faces resistance from the metro, and negotiations are ongoing.
Chippa’s decision to pack up and leave without proper communication does not suggest good business practice. Still, the realities on the ground cannot be ignored. Match attendance in Gqeberha was often poor unless top flight teams were playing against them, and the stadium itself failed to generate significant revenue from hosting the games.
If the existing contract is eventually dissolved, the municipality will have an opportunity to seek out new anchor tenants for the stadium; teams that can pull in crowds.
Ultimately, the stadium must be used — it cannot become a white elephant. But it must also attract clubs that not only bring in spectators, but also make a meaningful contribution to grassroots soccer development in the Bay.
The Herald
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