Legal procedure was taken to get Hartleyvale, says Comitis

Cape Town - Absa Premiership club Cape Town City owner John Comitis has refuted claims that the club have obtained a three-year lease of Hartleyvale Stadium and Malta Park illegally.

Earlier this year Comitis confirmed that the Citizens will begin the process of building their very own stadium on the Hartleyvale grounds.

Hartleyvale and Malta fields have been used by several lower league clubs for training as well as for Cup and league games.

FC Kapstadt owner Zaid Omar believes that Comitis acquired the space in a corrupt manner in partnership with the City of Cape Town.

"FC Kapstadt will not give up its rights to Hartleyvale A field and remains defiant in using Hartleyvale A field for training and matches. FC Kapstadt can confirm that the City of Cape Town has colluded with Cape Town City Sporting PTY LTD Chairman, John Comitis in a corrupt manner in their planning towards the application process and issuing of a lease agreement for Hartleyvale A field and Malta Park B field," Omar said in a statement released last week.

In response to the Omar's claims, Comitis denied that the procedure to get the lease was done illegally.

“Never will we do something that will be to the detriment of the club or the soccer public of Cape Town,” Comitis said as quoted by KickOff website. “I can assure you we have followed all the correct channels to obtain the lease.

“It is also not our desire to marginalise any amateur club in the city but would rather want to co-exist with them. It’s unfortunately that people cannot share this vision but it’s due to frustration and I can understand that.”

It has not been revealed as to when the building process will begin but the club has already started using the facilities to train.