Urgent bid to return ‘big-time’ soccer to Bay

By George Byron 

MAJOR new plans have been announced in an urgent bid to bring “big-time” soccer back to Nelson Mandela Bay following the decision last week by Bay United’s owners to relocate their club.

An innovative strategy was announced on Friday by Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium managing director Stefan Pretorius.

“Our long-term aim is to get a top team to relocate to the city and play at the stadium and build up support.”

Although he would not divulge teams that had been approached, it is believed they rank among the bestknown names in the South African game.

“In the short term we will do everything possible to get as many big matches as possible to be played at the stadium,” Pretorius said. “It is very sad Bay United have decided to relocate and the first prize for soccer lovers would have been if they had stayed in the city.”

Pretorius said the stadium wanted two major anchor tenants and that rugby was one of them. “We want soccer to be the other and we are doing everything possible to make that happen.”

Soccer administrator Boya Chetty said he would back any moves to get big-time soccer back. “It is in the interests of the stadium to have major soccer played at their venue and I hope they have success in attracting a top team.

“Because of the way soccer is structured it will be very difficult to get back to the top flight via the route of promotion. We are right at the bottom of the ladder.

“There is tremendous potential for soccer to become a big drawcard in Port Elizabeth. I will back the management at the stadium to the hilt,” Chetty said.

Bay United general manager Lungsi Mooi said the reasons stated by the club’s Limpopo-based owners for relocating were based mainly on the “lack of support received from the metro”.

The location of the city in terms of travel from regions where “quality teams” were based was another factor.

No major soccer has been played at the stadium since last year’s Fifa World Cup and the stadium is now the home of the EP Kings rugby team who are bidding for promotion to the Currie Cup Premier Division this season.

But while soccer fans are still reeling from the news that Umlilo are relocating, they can at least look forward to a clash between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates at the stadium in July.

The “Soweto derby by the sea” forms part of the Vodacom Challenge and more than 30000 fans are expected. Stadium management will be keen to see whether soccer still enjoys the tremendous pulling power of previous years when Chiefs play Pirates.