Cape Town City FC still grapples with finding a reliable stadium for their games, a struggle that echoes Benni McCarthy’s open letter to the City of Cape Town in 2017.
Back then, McCarthy criticised the city for prioritising rugby and other events over football, and the situation hasn’t changed much, Cape {town} Etc reports.
Also read: Jason Derulo’s heartwarming gift: Soccer balls for Cape Town schoolkids
Despite their best efforts, the club often finds itself squeezed out of prime stadium slots, highlighting an ongoing frustration for football fans in Cape Town.
‘Football has been sold lies in Cape Town. When there is a private wedding, the stadiums are ready,’ McCarthy said.
‘When there’s a rugby competition, the stadiums are ready. When there’s a nitro circus car event, the stadiums are ready. For football, Cape Town’s World Cup stadium – unavailable.’
Cape Town Stadium (also known as DHL Stadium due to sponsorship rights) was reportedly off-limits as it was being prepared for the Rugby Sevens, an event that has become an annual fixture in the Mother City.
Conversely, McCarthy described Athlone Stadium as a ‘sand pitch’. Newlands Stadium was also unavailable and filled with rugby dates.
Over the past eight years, Cape Town City FC had an agreement with DHL Stadium to host their home matches. However, News24 reports that this has not been guaranteed as their matches have been bumped if a more profitable event comes up.
‘Obviously, we do come second to rugby,’ said current City head coach Eric Tinkler. ‘That’s just a fact, especially with the success that rugby has had over the past few years.
‘That’s the sad part and, unfortunately, here in Cape Town, we’re not blessed with many stadiums that can be utilised. So, that’s always been a struggle.’
City is due to face Orlando Pirates in the first leg of the MTN8 semi-final at Cape Town Stadium on Tuesday.
Cape {town} Etc discount: Looking for things to do in the city, at half the price? Get exclusive offers here.
Considering the behind-the-scenes dispute at Newlands Stadium, News24 reports the team’s only other options include the Athlone- and Danie Craven Stadiums. However, the schedules of these arenas are packed as they gear up for the matches of Cape Town Spurs and Stellenbosch FC and rugby matches.
Furthermore, the pitch conditions have been severely affected. Last year, the City of Cape Town spent R16 million on a grass/synthetic hybrid pitch due to damages to the original grass that was laid in 2009.
The pitches of Athlone and Danie Craven have also been affected by rugby matches. ‘I don’t blame management at DHL Stadium,’ says Tinkler.
‘The Stormers are there, the events, the live concerts, all of that brings in a lot of money in terms of maintaining that facility. So, we’re well aware of that.
‘The unfortunate part, we were talking about it this morning, is that we don’t [only] come second to professional rugby, we actually come second to amateur rugby, too,’ Tinkler adds.
‘The U20 World Cup, in my view, shouldn’t be taking place at Athlone Stadium because you’re taking away from a professional football club the ability to play at Athlone.
‘We understand the [situation at the] DHL stadium [with raising funds to maintain the stadium], but did you really need to use Athlone?
‘I think that’s the sad part, for me, but those are the challenges we face, and we just have to try and deal with them the best we possibly can.’
As a solution, City has considered building their own stadium. ‘When I go back to 2016, when I first came to the club, we spoke about wanting to turn this [Hartleyvale] into [our] stadium,’ says Tinkler.
‘And I think the biggest challenge has been trying to get that lease in order for us to build our own stadium because we know the challenges that we’re going to face at the DHL.’
City owner John Comitis told Metro FM that there have been ‘lengthy discussions with the City of Cape Town’, emphasising that they do not need financial assistance.
‘For us, what we do, we’ve been asking the City [of Cape Town] to assist us in securing the rights to be able to build our own stadium, 10 000 to 12 000-seater.
‘At what point will we be able to have that and to be able to spend money that we are going to raise to do this… We haven’t asked for financial assistance; we want logistic assistance,’ he said.
‘We have set up meetings this coming week, and I’m hoping we’ll be able to start some initiative.’
City managed to play 12 of their 15 league games at Cape Town Stadium last season. Now, they will only be able to host nine matches.
Cape {town} Etc reached out to the City of Cape Town for comment and/or clarity on the situation.
Find your perfect set of wheels with these incredible deals on cars for under 100k. Find car listings here.
Also read:
Cape Town Stadium could be ideal venue for Africa’s first UFC event
Picture: Mouton v Zyl / Gallo Images