“Moses Mabhida Stadium Pitch To Be Pristine For Nedbank Cup Final”
The City’s Stadia and Facilities Unit manager, Vusi Mazibuko, has acknowledged that Moses Mabhida Stadium’s pitch has not been in optimal condition but has assured that it will be pristine for the weekend.
Moses Mabhida Stadium is set to host the Nedbank Cup final between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates on Saturday at 15:30.
The pitch’s condition was visibly subpar during Pirates’ 2-1 victory over Golden Arrows in the Betway Premiership on Tuesday.
Additionally, despite being the most frequently used venue for domestic cup finals, the pitch has not maintained the lush green appearance often seen at other stadiums.
The upcoming Nedbank Cup final will mark the 18th domestic cup final hosted at Moses Mabhida Stadium since it became available for domestic use following the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
“Our pitch has not been at the standard that we are known for,” Mazibuko admitted.
“We will rectify this, and the rehabilitation process commenced last evening. We can assure both teams that they will play on a pitch they will be proud of.”
This match will be the second encounter between the two Soweto giants within a week, following Pirates’ 2-1 victory at FNB Stadium last weekend.
It will also be the second time these two sides have met in a cup final at Moses Mabhida Stadium, the first being the 2014 MTN8 final, which Chiefs won 1-0.
That MTN8 triumph remains Kaizer Chiefs’ last knockout trophy, in contrast to Orlando Pirates, who claimed the MTN8 title at the same Durban venue in October, their third consecutive win in that competition.
