In a surprising turn of events, the much-anticipated Nedbank Cup quarterfinal clash between Mamelodi Sundowns and Sekhukhune United has been postponed, as confirmed by the PSL.
The game, initially scheduled for Saturday at the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium, has been delayed due to a clash in venue scheduling.
The PSL explained in a statement that the cause of the postponement was the double-booking of the Lucas Moripe Stadium. Although the PSL had secured exclusive rights to the venue through a pre-arranged agreement for the Nedbank Cup fixture, the stadium had also accepted another high-profile booking for a FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifier, which was set to kick off approximately six hours before the Sundowns vs. Sekhukhune match.
The match between Sundowns and Sekhukhune United was supposed to be one of three Nedbank Cup quarterfinals scheduled for Saturday. The other two fixtures would have seen SuperSport United host Orlando Pirates at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, and Stellenbosch FC face Kaizer Chiefs at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha. With this scheduling conflict at the Lucas Moripe Stadium, the Sundowns and Sekhukhune game could no longer take place as planned.
In a statement issued late Friday, the PSL explained that they immediately challenged the stadium management to clarify whether their original agreement could still be honored. Unfortunately, no confirmation was provided, leaving the PSL with no choice but to postpone the fixture.
The PSL emphasized that the situation went beyond a mere breach of contract. They pointed out that it was logistically impossible to host two high-profile matches within such a short timeframe at the same venue. The overlap would have created significant challenges in terms of team access, security, and overall adherence to the necessary protocols for the Nedbank Cup.
Furthermore, the PSL expressed concern that going ahead with both events, given the circumstances, would be “reckless” and could pose a serious risk to the safety and security of all involved, including players, officials, and spectators. The decision to postpone the match was ultimately taken to prevent any potential issues arising from this scheduling conflict.
As of now, there has been no indication as to when the rescheduled match will take place, leaving fans and teams alike waiting for further updates from the PSL.