Kaizer Chiefs’ away fixture against Orbit College FC early next month has been moved from Rustenburg. The fixture had initially been scheduled to be staged close to Orbit’s home base, but ongoing concerns surrounding Olympia Park have forced a change.
The venue recently came under scrutiny during a match involving MaGqeberhaundowns, with issues raised over pitch conditions and its limited capacity. The match is now set to take place at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha on April 6.
With Chiefs known to attract large crowds wherever they play, the need for a venue capable of safely accommodating a significant turnout became a key consideration. Although the nearby Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace appeared the most practical alternative, the PSL has opted to move the game to the Eastern Cape.
The decision changes what would have been a short trip for Amakhosi into a journey of more than 1,100 kilometres to Gqeberha. The venue for the clash is the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
KAIZER CHIEFS EAGER TO BUILD ON MOMENTUM
The Soweto giants go into the break following two wins against Durban City FC [1-0] and Magesi FC [2-0]. These victories, coming after a four-match winless streak, saw the Chiefs move up to fourth place.
They have 12 days to prepare for the Orbit clash as they push to secure a CAF interclub spot. The FIFA international break, which will see Bafana Bafana face Panama in two matches set for Durban and Cape Town, provides them with time to prepare. It also allows some of their injured players to recover before the next match.
Players like Etiosa Ighodaro, who has been nursing an injury, benefit from the break to recover. Sibongiseni Mthethwa, who has just returned from a layoff, now has time to regain fitness. This is as the league reaches the crucial final stages.
After snapping a losing streak with back-to-back victories, co-coach Cedric Kaze pointed to defensive and structural stability as the catalyst for the side’s turnaround.
“I always believed that the difficult moment we went through was conditioned by a lot of injuries and suspensions. When you have important players that are playing regularly two, three or four games in a row, that gives the stability we’re looking for,” Kaze said.
KAZE: ‘WE STAYED CALM’
He added that they need to “work every day to keep the momentum.”
“We knew why we were in a difficult moment, and the important thing was that we stayed calm. We need to keep that temperament and work every day to keep the momentum.”
Kaze is expected to join the Burundi national team in a technical advisory role ahead of the upcoming international window. The Swallows will face Chad in the preliminary round of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations [AFCON] qualifiers.
He will work closely with Patrick Sangwa Mayowani. They will travel to N’Djamena on March 25 for the first leg of this two-match tie. The second leg is scheduled at Intwari Stadium in Bujumbura. This is as they aim to secure their spot in the next round once and for all.
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