Chippa United are thrilled Bafana Bafana will be playing a friendly in East London for the first time in 13 years on Tuesday. Bafana, who today host Guinea-Bissau at Durban's Moses Mabhida Stadium at 15h00, will face Angola three days later at Buffalo City Stadium (19h00). Chippa relocated to the Eastern Cape from Cape Town in 2014, and club COO Lukhanyo Mzinzi is delighted to see football in the region gain a welcome boost. “We welcome the decision for SAFA to take this game to East London. This is recognition of our efforts as a football club working with all the stakeholders including SAFA to resuscitate football structures in the province,” Mzinzi told the club's website.

“Football in this province represents hope for many families in this province and for South African Football Association to bring the game to their doorstep will bring joy to the fans that have been starved international football for more than a decade. “We call upon all our supporters in the Greater East London Branch and beyond to come in numbers to support Bafana Bafana. The vibe that we have seen in East London for the past couple of months during football matches second to none and needs to be encouraged. “We are delighted that in some way Chippa United has played a role in taking football to the people. The international friendly gives not only the City but the province an opportunity to show the rest the country and beyond that we are ready and capable of hosting international matches.”

Diamond Thopola is the only Chilli Boys player in the current Bafana squad. The last time Bafana played in East London they lost to neighbours Zimbabwe in the COSAFA Cup.