PSL Acting CEO Mato Madlala has lauded Durban for its ability to successfully host some of the country’s biggest football occasions, with the city once again preparing to stage the MTN8 final.
Moses Mabhida Stadium will host the final for the 11th time out of 19 editions when Orlando Pirates face Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday, 10 October, with kick-off scheduled for 18:00.
The iconic stadium has built a strong association with the MTN8 over the years, adding another chapter to its rich history as one of the venues made for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
The venue’s reputation extends beyond the MTN8, with the KwaZulu-Natal city regularly trusted to host major football events.
Madlala says the PSL receives everything it needs from the city whenever it stages a major event, particularly praising the services provided by SAPS and Durban Metro Police.
She highlighted last year’s Nedbank Cup final between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates as an example of Durban’s capabilities, saying the city had no difficulty managing the demands of hosting a high-profile Soweto Derby.
“Let me talk about Durban in particular, there’s nothing we ask from them that they don’t provide us with,” said Madlala on Ukhozi FM, as translated from IsiZulu.
“There’s nothing they say we can’t do, from the security, SAPS, Metro [traffic police], everything, they can give us everything.
“If people remember well, we brought the Soweto Derby – Nedbank Cup final last year, the match kicked off on time and people were out in 30 minutes after the game. How do you argue with that?”
‘We Rotate Cup Finals’
Madlala further explained that the PSL will continue rotating its cup finals among different venues. She noted that stadiums such as Mbombela Stadium and New Peter Mokaba Stadium have recently hosted finals, adding that the league wants to have a number of venues capable of staging major cup matches.
“People tend to forget quickly, these games [cup finals], they are rotating,” she added.
“What we said as PSL is there must not be only one venue that is capable of hosting [a cup final] because God forbid if that is burnt down or whatever happens to it, where are we going to go?
“Some games go to Mbombela [Stadium] now, they are ready now. The first cup final we took to Mbombela was a disaster, it was difficult to enter or leave [the stadium].
“We then went to Polokwane [New Peter Mokaba Stadium]. Meanwhile, in Johannesburg, they always have these big games, Soweto Derby. So, we have to capacitate all provinces.”