By Ntokozo Magongo
MBABANE – Nsingizini Hotspurs will play both the first and second leg games at the Moses Mabhida Stadium against Stellenbosch in the CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round.
The first game between the two sides will be played on Saturday at Moses Mabhida Stadium with the second leg billed for August 24 to be hosted by Stellenbosch also to be played at the same venue.
Stellenbosch announced today (Thursday, August 15, 2024) that due to the unavailability of their home venues Danie Craven Stadium, Athlone Stadium and DHL Cape Town Stadium, they opt to play their fixtures at Moses Mabhida Stadium.
This will come as a sigh of relief for Nsingizini Hotspurs club and the supporters as it will be cheaper to play at Moses Mabhida Stadium other than going to the Western Cape, where Stellenbosch is based.
“Stellenbosch Football Club can confirm the club will regrettably play its up-coming home fixtures against Nsingizini Hotspurs (August 24, 2024) and Mamelodi Sundowns (September, 1, 2024) away from our traditional home at Danie Craven Stadium, and indeed outside the Western Cape.
These fixtures will instead both be played at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban due to the unavailability of the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch, and the surrounding Athlone Stadium and DHL Cape Town Stadium, on the dates in question,” reads the statement.
According to the statement released by the club on Thursday, the team is unable to utilise Danie Craven or Athlone Stadium due to the ongoing rehabilitation of the playing surfaces at both venues. This is due to damage caused to the pitch by a combination of the prevailing wet weather conditions and a strenuous rugby season.
“The Club would like to apologise to supporters for the inconvenience caused by the venue changes, and stress that all is being done to ensure that football returns to the Western Cape in time for the start of the 2024/25 Betway Premiership campaign,” concluded the statement.
