Pupuma Demands Stadium Resolution To Host Chiefs & Sundowns In Richards Bay
Milford coach Xanti Pupuma has called for improvements at Umhlathuze Sports Complex, saying an upgrade would allow the club to welcome PSL giants such as Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns to Richards Bay.
The Premier Soccer League (PSL) imposed a four-week suspension of fixtures at Umhlathuze Stadium, effective from August 13, following an inspection by league representatives.
However, despite the four-week suspension period coming to an end, there has been no official announcement confirming that the stadium is ready to host PSL matches again.
Pupuma believes the situation has denied Milford supporters the opportunity to watch their team compete against some of the biggest clubs in South African football on home soil.
“It’s unfortunate that now that we are in the PSL, our fans don’t get to see us,” Pupuma said.
“Hopefully, the municipality will help us, and the stadium becomes right.
“We can bring teams like Kaizer Chiefs and Sundowns and all that, and our people can watch them play against us.
“Not just coming to play with us, but watch them play against us, and we see what we bring to them, especially with our fans behind us.
“As for us being competitive this season, hopefully, hopefully. I mean, let’s take one game at a time.”
The 48-year-old mentor also expressed his disappointment with the low attendance at the Richards Bay Derby between the Stallions and Richards Bay, which was played at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium.
Milford produced an impressive 5-1 victory in the derby, but Pupuma believes the match would have attracted a much bigger crowd had it been played in Richards Bay.
“No, I’m not happy with the number of fans we had,” he added.
“If we were playing in Richards Bay, we were going to have 8,000 people from our team. So, we don’t have the facilities in Durban to bring them, as Richards Bay did.
“We don’t have the muscle to do that. For us, we’d rather play these games in Richards Bay, where our people can just take a taxi for R10 and come and watch us.
“So, the turnout is right, but we should be playing there, not sitting and having 8,000 people.”
With no official announcement following the end of the four-week suspension, the Stallions are set to face Durban City in the KZN Derby in Durban on Sunday before the FIFA international break.
Pupuma will now hope his side can continue competing strongly while the club and municipality seek a solution that could eventually see Milford return to playing home matches in Richards Bay, giving their supporters the chance to watch the team regularly and welcome some of the PSL’s biggest names to town.
