Soweto Derby Moving To Durban? Khoza Threatens FNB Stadium Relocation
PSL chairman Dr Irvin Khoza has threatened to move the Soweto Derby between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs away from FNB Stadium, pointing to the smooth organisation of previous matches hosted at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.
Khoza believes certain stakeholders are failing to play their part in the planning and organisation of the fixture, with the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) coming under scrutiny over its handling of the event.
Sportswire was informed ahead of the MTN8 final that FNB Stadium will not be granted the hosting rights to major cup finals involving the PSL’s traditional big three clubs due to concerns over the JMPD’s planning and handling of Soweto Derby fixtures.
The latest Derby, played this past weekend, once again left supporters frustrated, with some fans reportedly forcing their way into the stadium. The situation also resulted in a delay to kick-off, with thousands of supporters still waiting outside the venue.
Similar scenes were witnessed during last year’s Derby, when supporters were seen pushing down barricades and entering the stadium without tickets.
It was estimated that more than 100,000 fans gained entry to the venue, raising serious concerns about crowd management and safety.
The situation has not gone down well with the PSL chairman, who has requested a meeting with the relevant stakeholders on Thursday to establish why there continue to be planning and organisational problems surrounding a fixture watched by millions across the globe.
“We went to Durban for the final of Pirates and Chiefs in the Nedbank [Cup]; nothing of the sort happened. Pirates and Sundowns, nothing of the sort happened, why here?” Khoza told eNCA.
“There are certain role players who are not playing their part, but I cannot name and shame them on television because I’ve asked for a briefing on Thursday to make sure that if they don’t make up the act, we’re going to name and shame them because they are letting us down.”
Moses Mabhida Stadium has previously hosted the Soweto Derby without similar crowd-management problems. The venue also staged last month’s MTN8 final between Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates without any reported disturbances of the same nature.
Khoza praised Durban’s track record as a host city, suggesting that the PSL could consider taking the much-loved fixture away from Johannesburg and back to KwaZulu-Natal.
“Maybe in the future, instead of going to FNB Stadium, let’s go to Durban because they are good hosts,” said Khoza.
“They do things professionally. All our events are seamless.”
