Goal to have top-flight games in Chatsworth
TOP-FLIGHT football could soon return to Chatsworth if businessman Collin Naidoo has his way.
It has been 12 years since inaugural Premier Soccer League champions Manning Rangers suffered relegation, but the owner of a popular logistics company is confident that fans will be flocking to Chatsworth Stadium to watch Havenside-based Summerfield Dynamos play against the likes of Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates in coming years.
Naidoo recently bought the ABC Motsepe status of Sobantu Shooting Stars of Pietermaritzburg. It means Dynamos will feature in the country’s third division this season.
The club has been playing in the Castle SAB Regional League for the past two seasons where they managed two consecutive third place finishes but failed to progress from the play-offs.
Naidoo remained coy on exactly how much money he had to outlay for the status, but the Sunday Tribune Herald understands it costs close to R500 000 to land a spot in the semiprofessional league.
“It was a big step for us to take but it is my dream to see a club from Chatsworth play in the PSL again,” said Naidoo, who took over the club in 1993.
“This is a football-loving community and they deserve to have their very own team to get behind.”
The ABC Motsepe League features 144 clubs from around the country. Each province has a 16-team league with the winners progressing to the promotional play-offs for the National First Division.
Naidoo understands that it is an arduous task to gain promotion but has set in motion a three-year plan.
“Falcon Rose, who has coached our team for the past few years, will lead the club in the coming season.
“We want to give him a chance. He understands the culture of our team and we trust him.”
The club is now on a drive to recruit players for the coming campaign and will run trials on July 22 at their training base at Havenside grounds.
The club boss, who lives in the area and never misses a training session, says he wants to sign up youngsters who have a passion for the game and want to play professionally.