'Nothing sinister from Orlando Pirates' Stadium Management boss addresses FNB Stadium changing room row after Mamelodi Sundowns forced to use older change rooms - 'We’ve got a contractual agreement arrangement with Kaizer Chiefs'

Stadium Management South Africa Chief Executive Officer Bertie Grobbelaar has explained why there was a kickoff delay during the Premier Soccer League (PSL) match between Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns.

There was a delay of about six minutes because, as it has emerged, Sundowns, being the away team, had to use the changing room located at a distance. This delayed their appearance on the pitch before taking on the Bucs.

Grobbelaar has clarified that there was nothing sinister and that this happened because of a contractual agreement between the stadium management body and Kaizer Chiefs.

“It’s more of a club matter. As far as the change room matter, there’s nothing sinister when there was a discussion about playing the game here,” Grobbelaar explained.

“We’ve got a contractual agreement arrangement with Kaizer Chiefs as the tenant team that for the Betway Premiership they do not need to vacate their changing room and it will not be used.

“So we then renovated and built a new change room in the old change rooms, and that was what was made available to the clubs," he added.

“So nothing sinister from Stadium Management, nothing sinister from Orlando Pirates – it was in the agreement that we concluded with them.

“For the Betway Premiership, they [the Chiefs change room] can’t be used. There were alignment meetings, and there were match commissioner meetings, so I really don’t understand the issue around that that was communicated," the CEO concluded.

Despite the delay, the fans who attended the match were treated to a spectacle with Sundowns succumbing to a 2-1 defeat. Pirates were propelled forward courtesy of a quick goal by Relebohile Mofokeng.

With the season yet to conclude, Pirates' opponents, if hosted at the FNB, will have to use the changing room used by Sundowns, and this could also mean more delays will be experienced.

After beating the reigning PSL champions, Pirates are now training their guns on MC Alger for a CAF Champions League encounter. The Soweto giants will host the Algerian side on April 9.