It’s official. The Eastern Cape’s sole Premier Soccer League (PSL) representative, Chippa United, with its previous base in Gqeberha, will make East London its new home in the upcoming football season.
This was confirmed by club boss Siviwe “Chippa” Mpengesi over the weekend.
The club, affectionately known as the Chilli Boys, will play most of its home fixtures in the 2025/2026 season in BCM, and only three at its former base, Gqeberha’s Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
Of the 15 home games in the league expected to commence in August, the Chilli Boys plan to play all 12 of their category B games in East London, while Nelson Mandela Bay will get the three category A fixtures — the ones against the country’s football giants, Mamelodi Sundowns, Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates.
The club feels it does not make financial sense to play their category B games at the bigger Gqeberha stadium, when they have a much smaller stadium at their disposal that they can fill in BCM.
Plans to relocate to BCM were first hinted at by club coach Thabo September in April.
The Chilli Boys have called the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium home for the past 11 years, after they relocated from Philippi in the Western Cape in 2014.
The club received a R6m-a-year sponsorship deal from the Gqeberha municipality, including a R7m annual relocation fee tied to their status in top-flight football. The contract ends in June 2026.
It is unclear what will happen to this deal when the team moves to East London.
Having acquired the Buffalo City Stadium precinct in a 20-year lease agreement in January 2023, Mpengesi confirmed he was now ready to move Chippa’s headquarters to East London. A satellite office would, however, be left in Gqeberha.
The club is now looking for accommodation for its players and officials in the city.
It could not be determined by the time of publication how many of the club’s players and officials would be relocating to BCM.
What is imminent is that we will play more games in East London, but still keep the big games in Gqeberha
Mpengesi said his team still had a contract with the Gqeberha-based municipality.However, he clarified: “What is imminent is that we will play more games in East London, but still keep the big games in Gqeberha.”
He has already informed the Nelson Mandela municipality of his intentions.
In a March 25 letter to Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA) CEO Anele Qaba, Mpengesi said after 10 years it was necessary to review their contract and make some new proposals.
“Chief among our proposals is that Chippa are released from playing smaller games at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
“We are confident that financial records ... display that this is a loss-making exercise, which comes with a significant administrative burden for no gain.”
He said revenue was only ever received from category A games in NM Bay, which Chippa therefore committed to playing at the Gqeberha stadium.
Qaba conceded that category B matches did not, indeed, make any business sense for the Bay.
In previous seasons, the team has had a deal that saw it playing seven of the 15 home games in East London.
In May 2024, the BCM council endorsed a R33m three-year sponsorship deal for Chippa United to bring some of its top-flight league games to the city.
At the time, the council gave the green light to city manager Mxolisi Yawa to sign a memorandum of understanding with Mpengesi, a deal which has been on ice since the previous one lapsed in late June 2023.
City spokesperson Bongani Fuzile did not respond to questions at the weekend.
However, Black Business Forum (BBF) president Luthando Bara welcomed the move.
“This development signals a new chapter, not only for local football, but for the broader economic landscape of the region.
“[The club] has long been a symbol of provincial pride. Its decision to align more closely with BCM holds enormous potential for stimulating sports tourism, boosting small businesses and uniting fans across the province,” Bara said.
“We anticipate a significant increase in stadium attendance, especially from travelling supporters, which in turn creates substantial opportunities for the tourism and hospitality sectors.
“The property market in Buffalo City is also expected to receive a welcome boost, as demand increases for both commercial and residential spaces, driven by the economic buzz that professional football inevitably brings,” Bara said.
Border-Kei Chamber of Business’s Lizelle Maurice said: “This is very exciting news for us as a city, not only from a revenue perspective, but from a sports development perspective.
“Sports tourism can really generates an excellent income for the city. “Chippa’s move here will add to our rates base as well.”
However, not everyone is pleased.
Safa’s BCM secretary, Zolani Ngesmani, said the club’s relocation was a “non-event” to them. The association and Mpengesi have been at loggerheads for years — ever since the club boss evicted the association from its offices in the Buffalo City Stadium.
“The relocation of Chippa United ... will have no impact on Safa BCM and its members’ programmes, governance, competitions and administration, and, as such, is a non-event to us,” Ngesmani said
Daily Dispatch
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.