A fixture dispute has emerged ahead of the Motsepe Foundation
Championship clash between Cape Town City and Gomora United, with the former
calling on the PSL to enforce its regulations consistently.
The match is scheduled for January 23 at TUT Stadium in Johannesburg.
However, Gomora United have requested a late change to Giyani Stadium. Cape
Town City are firmly opposed, insisting the game must proceed at the
original venue.
In an exclusive interview with PSLSA, Cape Town City’s General Manager,
Andreas Christodoulou, argued that Gomora failed to request the change
within the league’s stipulated rules and timeframes. He drew a parallel to
his own club’s experience earlier in the season.
“We were forced to play our game at UWC when we couldn’t use Athlone
Stadium. The league was uncompromising with changing our fixture date or
venue, and I hope they remain consistent,” Christodoulou stated.
He dismissed claims of issues with TUT Stadium, suggesting the request was
financially motivated. “There’s nothing wrong with that pitch… It’s just
that they made a choice not to use that stadium anymore based on financial
reasons.”
Christodoulou also highlighted the logistical and financial burden a change
would impose, noting his team has already booked travel and accommodation
and faces a quick turnaround for their next match.
When contacted by PSLSA, Gomora United chairman Joe Seanego acknowledged the
difficulty of the situation, expressing understanding for Cape Town City’s
position.
“I understand their side of the story… It was just an unfortunate part,”
Seanego said. He explained the challenge stemmed from delayed post-holiday
approvals and TUT Stadium’s unavailability, leaving him to scramble for an
alternative venue for this single fixture.
He stressed there was no conflict between the clubs, stating, “There’s no
bad blood… We are not fighting. It’s just the way it is.”
Cape Town City, who are currently fourth in the league, are preparing for
the match amid a busy January transfer window focused on bolstering their
squad.
