Richards Bay have been ordered to find alternative venues for their upcoming home fixtures after the Premier Soccer League (PSL) handed the uMhlathuze Sports Complex a four-week suspension.
The ban follows a failed stadium inspection in which league officials found the playing surface unfit for professional football ahead of the new Betway Premiership season.
It will officially come into effect on 13 August 2026, meaning Richards Bay will have to move their affected matches away from their usual home ground. One of the fixtures impacted is a much-anticipated Betway Premiership meeting with Kaizer Chiefs, which must now be staged at a neutral venue.
The PSL’s decision came after inspectors identified serious problems with the condition of the pitch during their latest assessment. Richards Bay said the concerns centred on sections of newly laid grass, where the roots had not developed sufficiently to provide a safe and stable playing surface.
The league concluded that allowing professional matches to continue at the venue would create an unnecessary risk of injury to players. It has therefore instructed that immediate rehabilitation work be carried out before the complex can again host top-flight football.
Because the inspection took place at short notice, the PSL granted permission for Richards Bay’s opening Betway Premiership fixture against Polokwane City to be played at the stadium. A lower-division match scheduled for 12 August will also go ahead before the suspension begins.
Richards Bay chairman Jomo Biyela confirmed that the club had received the league’s directive and accepted that the stadium would need to meet the required standards before another inspection could be arranged.
Biyela said responsibility for the upkeep of the facility rested with the City of uMhlathuze, which owns the uMhlathuze Sports Complex. The municipality is now expected to undertake urgent repairs and rehabilitation work to bring the pitch back up to Premier Soccer League standards.
The suspension leaves Richards Bay with the immediate challenge of securing a temporary home venue, with several important Betway Premiership fixtures approaching. The club will need to confirm where those matches will be played while the work on the pitch continues.
Richards Bay have promised to keep supporters informed as efforts progress to restore the uMhlathuze Sports Complex and make it suitable for top-flight football again.
The development comes as the league finalises arrangements for the new season, including the previously confirmed MTN8 match times and venues. For Richards Bay, however, the priority is now the rehabilitation of their home ground and the search for an alternative venue for their suspended home fixtures.
