eThekwini mayor Cyril Xaba says MTN8 final venue isn’t paid to host games
eThekwini mayor Cyril Xaba has clarified the municipality does not pay to host major Premier Soccer League (PSL) cup finals at Moses Mabhida Stadium.
This comes after the PSL on Monday announced the iconic venue in Durban will host the blockbuster MTN8 final between Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns on October 10 at 6pm.
This means eight of the last 10 MTN8 finals would have been hosted at the stadium. Xaba said that is because KwaZulu-Natal is a tourist destination of choice.
“They just want to come here. We don’t do anything like pay for the matches. We don’t do that. People love Durban because of the electric atmosphere they find here,” Xaba said.
Mayor of Durban Cyril Xaba has confirmed that the City will be ready to host the MTN8 final, including law enforcement agencies to ensure the safe of the match. #sportswireza #GetYourSportsFix pic.twitter.com/5RBWoGu5bq— sportswire.za (@sportswireza) September 29, 2026
“We are a tourism attraction of choice and MTN knows they are likely to market their brand well. We are one of the big metros, accommodation establishments are here and there is a lot of tourism endowment, such as beaches and the ubuntu of the people.
“There will be no need for us to pay, except to produce what we have by spending money on getting our beaches clean, ensuring we support our tourist establishments and all role players in the value chain.
eThekwini executive director of community services Vusi Mazibuko said Moses Mabhida Stadium was not available for matches in the 2026-27 domestic season to ensure the pitch would be ready.
“On the issue of readiness, the reason Moses Mabhida has not been available is that there is work being done here,” he said.
As things stand, the venue is ready for the MTN8 final on 10 October.We have been called by the mayor of Durban and we are here to listen to him.@sportswireza pic.twitter.com/aOfcFBDOGC— robin-duke 🇿🇦 🏟 (@duke_robin) September 29, 2026
“The stadium has been selective in which matches to host. That unavailability made King’s Park across [the road] available to host some matches that would ordinarily have been hosted here.
“The stadium management had a plan that they want to host finals and they have been planning to host this final. Part of that plan included what will be allowed on the pitch so if the announcement is made it must favour the stadium.
“Part of that requirement will be readiness of the pitch. When the Durban City match [a 1-0 Caf Confederation Cup preliminary round win against Burundi’s Rukinzo FC on September 6] happened, unfortunately it rained and the pitch deteriorated.
“The work needed to be done to be ready to contest for the final, and the content that was going to happen between that match and the announcement of the final needed to be shifted.
“Hence a Golden Arrows match could not be taken in anticipation that if we get the final, we must be ready. Those were strategic decisions that were taken in preparation for the announcement to favour us.”