sportskeeda
Vusi Mazibuko, manager of the City’s Stadia and Facilities Unit, has acknowledged that the condition of Moses Mabhida Stadium’s pitch has not been ideal, but he assures that it will be in top shape for the weekend.
The Nedbank Cup final featuring Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates is set to occur at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday at 15:30.
During the Pirates’ 2-1 victory over Golden Arrows in the Betway Premiership on Tuesday, the pitch was notably subpar.
Additionally, despite serving as the primary venue for domestic cup finals, the pitch has struggled to maintain the vibrant green appearance commonly seen at other stadiums.
This upcoming final will mark the 18th domestic cup final held at Moses Mabhida Stadium since its opening for domestic events post the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
“Our pitch has not met the standards we take pride in,” Mazibuko commented.
“We are dedicated to rectifying this, and restoration efforts commenced last night. We assure both teams that they will compete on a pitch they can be proud of.”
This match will represent the second encounter between these two Soweto rivals within a week, following Pirates’ 2-1 win at FNB Stadium last weekend.
This will also be the second cup final between the two teams at Moses Mabhida Stadium, with the first being the 2014 MTN8 final, which Chiefs won 1-0.
That MTN8 victory remains the last knockout trophy for Kaizer Chiefs, in contrast to Orlando Pirates, who claimed the MTN8 title at the same Durban venue in October, marking their third consecutive triumph in that tournament.
