Richards Bay have confirmed that they are aware of the outcry from their fans to return back to Umhlathuze Sports Ground in Richards Bay, but the venue is not ready to host top flight football.
Based on the league’s draft fixtures that were leaked before the official one a few weeks ago, Umhlathuze Sports Ground was scheduled to see Bay host Golden Arrows on 8 August home matches.
However, that will not be the case based on the final and ground the club will use is King Zwelithini Stadium in uMlazi, where they also played their home games last season following their promotion into the top flight last in the 2021/22 season.
Even in that season, they only played one game at home and the other 14 were played in uMlazi, which did not stop them from winning the Motsepe Foundation Championship to gain promotion.
“Richards Bay Football Club would like to assure its supporters and public at large about the commitment to play all the home games for the 2023/24 season (at Umhlathuze Sports Ground),” said the club in a statement.
“But unfortunately the uMhlathuze Sports Stadium is not ready to host us. We understand the importance of playing all our home matches at the stadium as it will ensure that our supporters get to watch the club at the stadium, also the Tourism and Economic spin off it will have for the District.
“As the club we sincerely apologize to the supporters and the public. uMhlathuze Sports Stadium was our preferred venue as indicated in the fixtures published by the Premier Soccer League.
“We hope that the stadium will be completed so that we can return home. The club would also like to assure the supporters that the club is still based in Richards Bay and trains at eMpangeni High School as we regard ourselves as a King Cetshwayo district club.”
The last time Bay played at Umhlathuze Sports Ground, they lost 1-0 to now defunct Free State Stars on 28 August 2021.
