Chiefs pull plug on City match

COVID-19: OUTBREAK HITS NATURENA TRAINING BASE

Kaizer Chiefs appear to be on a collision course with the Premier Soccer League after announcing that they will not be hosting Cape Town City in today’s DStv Premiership encounter, following an outbreak of Covid-19 at the club’s training base in Naturena.

Stuart Baxter’s Chiefs have written to the PSL asking that all their four matches up to the end of the year are postponed, after testing at the Kaizer Chiefs village in Naturena returned 31 positive cases for Covid-19.

The PSL Executive Committee met yesterday to discuss Chiefs’ letter, but had not made any official comment by early yesterday evening.

The PSL, however, have previously not allowed teams to postpone matches if they have had outbreaks of Covid-19 in camp.

On 3 January, Cape Umoya United did not play a fixture against Cape Town Spurs after a Covid-19 outbreak in their ranks.

The PSL Exco ruled that Covid-19 could not be given as a reason to postpone a club’s games, and handed Spurs a walkover.

Chiefs, however, appear to be standing their ground and are refusing to play today’s game.

“In light of the recent outbreak of Covid-19 infections that has befallen the club, Kaizer Chiefs submitted two letters to the Premier Soccer League pleading for the postponement of the remaining matches scheduled for the month of December following the outbreak,” read a Chiefs statement released late yesterday.

“In the interim, the prevailing circumstances dictate that Kaizer Chiefs must sadly confirm that the Club will be unable to host the match against Cape Town City, scheduled for Saturday, 4 December at 18:00. At least 31 employees have tested positive for the virus and the Club has subsequently been obliged to instruct all players, members of the technical team and staff, who are deemed primary contacts, to quarantine as per official protocols.

“Unfortunately, this is the only option available in the current situation and, as a responsible corporate citizen, Kaizer Chiefs upholds its duty to protect the lives of those around us – including others – and do our best to avoid an outbreak that might potentially affect the league and the country.”