Durban Venue Chaos! Arrows Forced Out Of KZN For High-Stakes Chiefs Clash
Due to the unavailability of suitable venues in Durban, Golden Arrows have been forced to move their upcoming Betway Premiership fixture against Kaizer Chiefs to Mbombela Stadium on 19 September.
Abafana Bes’thende were originally scheduled to host Chiefs at King Zwelithini Stadium in Umlazi on the same day. However, the club did not clarify why the venue was unavailable, especially after Mamelodi Sundowns played there twice within two weeks—including last weekend’s 2-1 league victory over Arrows and an entertaining MTN8 semi-final second leg without incident.
Stadium availability across KwaZulu-Natal has become a major issue. Moses Mabhida Stadium remains largely off-limits due to ongoing renovations; although Durban City hosted a CAF Confederation Cup preliminary first-leg tie at the venue over the weekend, the pitch condition was severely criticized.
With Golden Arrows based at Moses Mabhida Stadium, the club explored playing there, but the surface remains far from ready ahead of the fixture in nine days’ time.
Elsewhere in the province, Richards Bay FC and Milford FC were barred from using the uMhlathuze Sports Complex in Richards Bay after the PSL ruled it failed to meet top-flight standards.
This has forced both clubs to relocate their home matches to Durban, playing at Princess Magogo Stadium and Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium, respectively.
This will be the second meeting between Golden Arrows and Kaizer Chiefs this season. Arrows claimed a 1-0 victory over Amakhosi at FNB Stadium in the MTN8 quarter-finals early last month.
