Lerumo Lions are facing increasing financial difficulties after being forced to host their home matches at Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto due to a shortage of suitable football facilities in North West province.

Club chairlady Sibongile Marokana has expressed concern about the financial burden of playing outside their home province, explaining that the situation has created additional expenses for the Motsepe Foundation Championship side.

According to Marokana, Lerumo Lions have struggled to find a suitable venue in North West that meets the requirements for hosting league fixtures. The club has therefore been forced to look beyond the province to ensure their matches can be played at an approved stadium.

Royal Bafokeng Stadium is among the available options, but the associated costs remain a major concern for a club competing in South Africa's second division.

“It is a very costly exercise, I want to be very honest about it. Unfortunately, in the North West province, we don’t have the correct facilities. We don’t have facilities that are ready for us to utilise,” Marokana told Soccer Laduma.

The chairlady also highlighted the lack of financial assistance from municipalities and the provincial government. She explained that some clubs receive support from local authorities to reduce the expenses associated with hosting matches, but Lerumo Lions have not received similar assistance.

“There’s no support in terms of municipalities or government within the North West province. Other teams are being assisted by municipalities with a bit of cash injection to lower the costs. We don’t have that unfortunately,” she said.

As a result, the club has continued to explore alternative arrangements. Dobsonville Stadium has become their primary home venue, although they have also played a home fixture against Real Native FC at the University of Johannesburg's Soweto campus.

Marokana confirmed that the club was working on possible solutions but declined to provide further details until the arrangements were finalised.

The financial concerns come as Lerumo Lions attempt to maintain their progress in the 2026/27 Motsepe Foundation Championship campaign. The team collected 11 points from their opening seven matches and moved into sixth position after securing a 2-1 away victory over Highbury FC.

Beyond their immediate league ambitions, Lerumo Lions are targeting promotion to the Betway Premiership. However, the additional costs of travelling and securing venues outside North West could affect the resources available for player development and other football operations.

Finding an affordable, suitable home ground would ease the pressure on the club and allow it to concentrate more fully on its sporting objectives.

For now, Lerumo Lions must manage their financial challenges while continuing their campaign. A sustainable solution to their stadium problem could prove important to their long-term stability and promotion ambitions.

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