| Full name | Bay United Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Watsh’Umlilo (The fire is burning) | ||
| Founded | 2006 | ||
| Ground | Seshego Stadium, Polokwane (Capacity: N/A) |
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| Chairman | Julia Mogaladi | ||
| Coach | David Bright | ||
| League | National First Division | ||
| 2010–11 NFD season | 1st (Coastal Stream) | ||
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Bay United is a South African football (soccer) club based in the city of Polokwane that currently plays in the National First Division.
The club came into existence in 2006 when the franchise of struggling National First Division club Maritzburg United was purchased and relocated to Port Elizabeth. The club spent one season in the Premier Soccer League, and the other years of its existence in the National First Division.
Following the 2010-11 NFD season, the clubs NFD franchise was moved to Polokwane, Limpopo.
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The club was owned by Volkswagen South Africa during the 2006–07 NFD season.[1] After the 2006–07 season Sipho Pityana purchased the club through his company, Izingwe Holdings and VW became the team's main sponsor.
The club's future was unknown during the 2010 off season as owner Sipho Pityana had said that the club would cease conducting business, while attempting to sell the club.[2]
The main reasosn given for selling the club were, a lack of funds, stemming from the teams demotion from the PSL at the end of the 2008/2009 season. The reduction in income due to playing in the NFD, as well as a fine for releasing players seem to be the main causes for the club's problems. Pityana had said that he would however be willing to sell the club, should a buyer come forward.[3]
The club was eventually sold to Striving Mind Trading 522 CC, a Limpopo based company, headed by Julia Mogaladi. She is the wife of John Mogaladi, chairman of the Limpopo based football club, Winners Park. There were initially rumours that the team may be moved to Limpopo, but it will remain in Port Elizabeth, at least for the 2010–11 season.[4]
When the club was first formed, it played its matches at the Wolfson Stadium, in Motherwell, Port Elizabeth. Following the 2007–08 NFD season, and the club's promotion to the PSL, the stadium was deemed below league standards. The team then moved its home matches to the EPRU Stadium in Port Elizabeth for the 2008–09 Premier Soccer League. The team shared the stadium with Eastern Province rugby team. During the season, the team also hosted some matches at East London's Buffalo City Stadium.
The team was relegated at the end of the 2008–09 PSL season, and then moved its home matches to the smaller Westbourne Oval. During the 2009–10 National First Division season, the team experienced scheduling issues, and was forced to also host matches at NMMU's Xerox Stadium, and the EPRU Stadium.
During the 2010–11 National First Division season the team began by hosting its matches at the Westbourne Oval, but later shifted to hosting its matches at the Gelvandale Stadium.
The youth team plays its home matches at the NU2 Stadium.
The team's main sponsor is Volkswagen South Africa, who had previously owned the club. The team is also sponsored by Aberdare Cables.[5] Puma is the team's technical sponsor.[6]
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