The Bethlehem-based side have not done so for the comfort of the visiting side but were instead forced by CAF regulations which restrict participating teams to host matches within a 200km radius of the “capital of the country”.
Should the distance exceed this radius, CAF rules state, “The host association shall provide the visitors with an airplane transport to the venue of the match and back. If this is not possible, the match shall be played in the capital city except by agreement between the two teams.”
Thus, Ea Lla Koto have called in a favour with Bidvest Wits to use their home ground in Milpark, with club general manager Rantsi Mokoena admitting it's not an ideal scenario.
“It’s CAF rules. If a club … Because we are based 250 kilometres away from the [Braam Fischer International] Airport, and it’s just so many compliance issues,” Mokoena tells snl24.com/kickoff.
“It can’t be easy because we would have loved to play in the Free State, but the problem is that Goble Park doesn’t comply [with CAF rules].
“And, in terms of logistics, it would have been a nightmare to get everybody here [to Bethlehem], and there’s cost issues involved and all sorts of things.”
Mokoena further refutes that moving the fixture to Johannesburg was purely a cost-cutting exercise, and says that Wits were happy to offer up their facilities.
“It wasn’t cheaper. The cost was but one of the issues. So, it’s not minimised to just costs,” he says.
“We have good relationships in football. I spoke to Wits and their stadium was available. So, as long as we met certain criteria that they also had to meet in terms of booking the stadium, et cetera – they were quite happy to allow us to play there.”
Of their intentions in the competition, Mokoena has assured that Stars – who will be temporarily led by assistant coaches Sly Mosala and David Vilakazi, following Luc Eymael’s departure – will go all out to win and try to advance as far as possible.
“Every game that we go into, we want to win it. We will never enter the pitch wanting to lose a game,” emphasises Mokoena.
“This is history for Free State Stars, so we can’t just go in there and be Mickey Mouse – we need to try and win it.”
Kick-off of the clash at the Bidvest Stadium is scheduled for 15h00.