Marumo Gallants’ problems seem to be none ending, as their upcoming DStv Premiership fixture against Chippa United hangs by a thread.
Following their Libya saga where two officials had to be rescued by the government over hotel payment issues, their DStv premiership fixture against Chippa United, scheduled for the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Wednesday evening (19; 30) hangs in the balance.
The side may need to pay for the venue due to legal issues between the club and facility owners Polokwane municipality.
Relations between Gallants and the municipality are believed to have gone sour when the Premier Soccer League side decided to take their home matches to Free State, Rustenburg and Dobsonville.
Earlier this season the parties were also in court over a fixture whether to be played in Polokwane or Rustenburg, a case the club won.
This publication has it on good authority that the club has been training in Polokwane ahead of the game and may not be aware that they will need to pay for the facility.
iDiski Times contacted Mantlako Sebaka, the Sport and Recreation manager at the municipality to find out if the club will be allowed to use the facility against Chippa for free or a fee. Sebaka responded via text saying the issue is being handled by the parties’ legal departments.
“Our matter is still to be resolved between their lawyers and ours,” Sebaka told iDiski Times.
“Essentially, the matter is being dealt with legally. We received an enquiry about the availability of the facility, and we did indicate it’s available.
“We had to await the next step, which was to book it and eventually make arrangements for the usage. We waited for their response after their enquiry about the availability of the facility.”
It costs approximately R140 000 to book the venue and clubs that have partnered with the municipality use it for free, a privilege Gallants used to enjoy before relations became rocky with municipality.
Story by Lethabo Kganyago (@KganyagoLee).
