Cape Town City boss John Comitis is bedonnerd with the City of Cape Town after the first Western Cape PSL derby in two years was moved from their Cape Town Stadium home to Athlone Stadium.
The Citizens and top-flight rookies Stellenbosch were supposed to meet at the 2010 World Cup venue, but the City announced on Monday night that the stadium pitch is not ready, just four days before the match.
City of CT officials say routine maintenance from May 20 has taken longer than expected due to the heavy rains in the region after hosting the Monster Jam event on 27 April.
MAINTENANCE: Surface of Cape Town Stadium pitch is being re-laid. Photo: Twitter/@CityofCT
Lesley de Reuck, CEO for the Cape Town Stadium, says: “It is important to note that the Cape Town Stadium hosted 36 bowling events during the 2018/19 season.
“During this time, the pitch became compacted and slippery, hence the necessity for corrective maintenance to be conducted.”
But Comitis is having none of it, saying: “This is yet another negligent and careless undermining of professional football in Cape Town by the Cape Town Stadium management.
WRECKER: Monster Jam in Cape. Photo: David Ritchie/BackpagePix.
“The club has a multi-year contract with Cape Town Stadium. It is no secret that the league season starts each year in August, and the home opening game against Stellenbosch had been booked and agreed in advance. As early as June, the club stressed the importance of the opening home fixture being at the Stadium, raising concerns over the surface after various non-sporting events such as monster trucks had been accepted before the start of the season.”