Durban Challenge: Moses Mabhida Stadium to host historic Sharks match

Jun 27 • General News, National • 1810 Views • Comments Off on Durban Challenge: Moses Mabhida Stadium to host historic Sharks match

Feel it, it’s here, it’s the Durban Challenge, a clash between the Cell C Sharks and the Union Bordeaux Bègles, from France hosted at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Friday, 17 August 2018.

This historic rugby game will see the Cell C Sharks play their first ever game at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, in a spectacle that is expected to attract thousands of visitors to the City of Durban.

Speaking at the launch of the inaugural Durban Challenge, the Mayor, Cllr Zandile Gumede said the City was very excited to host the Durban Challenge and that it stood to a lot of benefits to the City.

“This game is one of the many initiatives that we will be undertaking as part of our partnership with the Cell C Sharks. It is important to highlight that the Cell C Sharks have a partnership with the City which is the base for us taking this relationship to one of the city’s biggest attractions, Moses Mabhida Stadium, which has played host to major international events. This spectacle not only brings visitors to the city, it provides a valuable platform that position Durban as a sporting capital”, she said.

Commenting on this match, The Sharks CEO, Gary Teichmann, said: “Through our valued partnership with Durban Tourism, we are happy to be participating in this exciting inaugural Durban Challenge match against a strong Bordeaux Bègles team. We at The Sharks are gearing to host an exciting Test Match the following day and the support of our community is instrumental to the success of this festival of rugby in our province over that weekend.”

“It is important to highlight that our city will also host the Test Match between the Springboks and Argentina on Saturday, 18 August, at JONSSON KINGS PARK. This showcase of rugby by both the Cell C Sharks and Springboks is great for our city and we hope rugby fans across the country, continent and globally will descend to our shores and experience warmth of our people,” added Gumede.

We anticipate over 50 000 people to attend this rugby showcase, with potential economic spinoff estimated to over R 75 Million. Our city infrastructure and capacity to host such events places the city of Durban in a better position to attract visitors to the city, whilst ensuring that sustained jobs are created during hosting such games.

Partnership between government and private sector is key in ensuring that the city’s economy, adequate infrastructure and new developments continue to positively change the economy landscape and skyline of Durban.