Chiefs eye return to Dobsonville after fan ‘love’ fuels cup progression

The intimate atmosphere and fervent support experienced during their CAF Confederation Cup victory has prompted Kaizer Chiefs to publicly express a strong desire to host more matches at Dobsonville Stadium, despite current league restrictions on home venues.

The Amakhosi’s 3-1 win over Congolese side AS Simba on Sunday, which secured their passage to the Confederation Cup group stages, was played at the smaller Soweto venue after their primary home, FNB Stadium, was unavailable. The enthusiastic crowd response has clearly struck a chord with the club hierarchy.

Kaizer Chiefs; The Call for a Dobsonville Return

Chiefs spokesperson Vina Maphosa confirmed the sentiment, framing the desire to return as repaying a debt to their local community.

“We will endeavour to find opportunities to play in Dobsonville again because we were shown love,” Maphosa told the media. “We owe it to the people of Soweto and Dobsonville to return there…”

The match saw 17,000 tickets sold, according to Stadium Management SA (SMSA) Managing Director Bertie Grobbelaar, with supporters creating a vibrant, close-quarters environment that many believe is often lost in the vastness of the FNB Stadium.

Navigating Venue Restrictions

The primary challenge facing the club is the Premier Soccer League (PSL) rule stipulating that each team must register only three home venues for the season. Chiefs have already listed FNB, Moses Mabhida, and Peter Mokaba Stadiums.

Maphosa acknowledged the obstacle but insisted the club would be opportunistic. “At any given time that we find a gap in the list of the three home bases that we have registered… we will go to Dobsonville Stadium.”

He also revealed the sentimentality of the occasion, noting that even Chairman Kaizer Motaung was moved by the support: “Remember, we belong to Soweto; that’s where the club was formed in Phefeni… It was special even to Dr Motaung, who sent the message of thanks to the supporters as well.”

Meanwhile, SMSA’s Bertie Grobbelaar echoed the calls for more matches at the venue, despite acknowledging its limitations.

“I believe Dobsonville deserves more regular games… We maintain that venue on a regular basis. Hopefully, there’ll be more games there in the future,” Grobbelaar said, while noting that the stadium’s capacity, access routes, and facilities would need upgrades for consistently hosting bigger fixtures.

For now, the Glamour Boys must use their registered venues for the Confederation Cup group stages, as Dobsonville is not yet approved for that category, but the emotional connection forged on Sunday suggests the club’s administrative efforts to secure more matches there are only just beginning.