This weekend’s Betway Premiership matches in Polokwane, Limpopo, have been thrust into disarray as two fixtures are forced to relocate from the new Peter Mokaba Stadium to the older facility due to significant damage to the playing surface. The pitch, which had recently undergone an upgrade, was rendered unusable after a music festival took place last Saturday, leaving officials scrambling to adjust the game schedule.
In the spotlight are Sekhukhune FC, set to face Marumo Gallants FC on Saturday, and Magesi FC, who will host Orlando Pirates FC on Sunday. The swift change in venue marks a setback for the new stadium, which has aimed to become a beacon for sporting events in the area.
Polokwane Municipality’s executive Mayor, John Mpe, expressed his concerns regarding the damaged pitch, indicating that it will take a minimum of one month to restore the playing surface to an acceptable condition. Mayor Mpe wasted no time in addressing the issue of accountability, stating that both the stadium management and the event organisers would be held responsible for the negligence that led to the current predicament.
“We have got damage on our pitch; obviously, management will have to be accountable because we have agreed from the onset that the pitch will be covered,” Mpe stated. He stressed that the stadium has successfully hosted major events in the past without incident. However, he noted that the recent failure to properly protect the pitch has resulted in significant damage that requires urgent attention.
In discussing the financial implications, Mpe revealed that the restoration efforts are estimated to cost more than R1 million. “This is going to be a costly exercise, but we don’t want to overestimate or underestimate. Let us get the final costing from the management and then we will be able to deal with the fact that we are not in the business of making profit in any events,” he explained.
The hopeful resilience of Polokwane’s sports community will be tested this weekend, as fans and players prepare for an outdoor spectacle in a historic venue while the new stadium grapples with the consequences of mismanagement. The focus now shifts to ensuring such oversights do not impede the region’s ambitions to establish itself at the forefront of South African football.