City's proposal would lead to downgrading of stadium, says SAFA

The South African Football Association (SAFA) Cape Town has strongly opposed the plan.

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Its president, Bennet Bailey, said the City should focus its efforts elsewhere. This is our Wembley. People from Mitchell’s Plain, Gugulethu, Khayelitsha, Hanover Park and many other areas have a history of this stadium,” he said.

“If the City has such energy, fix it to international standards. It must use its energy to clean up the vagrants along the Klipfontein corridor. People from Gugulethu and Hanover Park used to walk to the stadium, but today they can’t due to the risk of robbery by vagrants. Make it safe,” said Mr Bailey.

He said the proposal, if implemented, would prevent the stadium from ever hosting international matches and would result in the effective downgrading of the venue.

“Rather than trying to build houses and shops on the parking lot, the City should be helping to fix the stadium to an international stadium,” he said.