The Premier Soccer League is amongst the biggest in
Africa if not the biggest. Soweto derby (Kaizer Chiefs vs Orlando Pirates) is
also well known in most parts of Africa and some in Europe now.
The main reason I am writing about the supporters’
separation is due to safety reasons. We usually go to the stadium with our
unreserved seats tickets and next thing you find yourself surrounded by the
opposition supporters. We make those small talks until a misunderstanding rise
or a goal comes to action. Anything can happen even though there are securities
as well as police. Too often we see people jumping to the pitch, what can stop
a serious fight?
However, referees can also make mistakes, a human error
that will leave the favoured team’s supporters happy and the ones cheated
furious. A fight can rise in this instance and before you know it, it will be a
stampede from the gutted supporters. A similar incident happened in 1991 in a
Soweto derby at Oppenheimer stadium, yet we still do not apply the right
remedies.
A big game like the Soweto derby invites people to travel
from all over the country to witness this prestigious game live. Recently, it
also attracted women and children as well. The capacity of the supporters is
actually larger than the securities and polices combined at the stadium should
anything happen.
I have interviewed someone who is usually a security in
big games like the Soweto derby. In fact, she was on duty even on the MTN8
second leg match. She told me that they are well trained for stadium games and
any other events. She also mentioned to me that they can manage pressure, but
should anything happen they will call police. Most police are also at the
stadium on match days as back up to the securities and in helping to prevent
any incidents. Basically police are there as a last defence too.
However, on the first leg of MTN8 I was watching the game
live at FNB Stadium (Soccer City). There were people who watched the game on
the walking passages on level one stands. Questions occurred to me: is the
stadium acquainted more than maximum capacity? Why were the securities not
making sure that those people were on their seats? Have we forgotten of what
happened at Ellis Park?
Tragedies have happened even in Europe too (mother of
most watched and intriguing leagues). Hence they have taken major remedies.
Supporters do not sit together unless supporting one team. Other stadiums there
are fences surrounded the pitch to avoid fans coming in. However, in some
instances supporters still jump on the pitch but dealt with as fast as
possible. South African securities also deal with supporters that jump in the
pitch. We saw even on the weekend of Orlando Pirates v Al Ahly at Orlando Stadium.
We might be total strangers on our arrival at the stadium,
but the moment we sit together and supporting one team – brother ship starts
from there. Quite often I make friends at the stadium. Most of the time I make
friends with the opposition team supporters. As a Chiefs supporter, I was
surrounded by Pirates fans on both first leg and second leg of MTN8 at Soccer
City and Orlando stadium respectively. Not surprisingly, they were criticizing
some of Chief’s players. Imagine if I were to start a Floyd Mayweather fight.
To add more salt on my wound, Pirates took an early lead which resulted to be a
winner eventually on the first leg. Bacela’s penalty made me to leave the
stadium before time on the second leg.
Yes, in terms of sales the stands separation might be a
bad idea. It might happen away supporters are willing to buy more tickets than
the home side. Logically away supporters should be less than the home
supporters, which means other seats might remain unoccupied in this case. We
all know the poor attendance here in South Africa in most stadiums, especially
night fixtures and so called small teams.
Yet again most teams careless about a good home
atmosphere, as long as the stadium is full. Bidvest Wits and Mpumalanga Black
aces in particular. The duo takes their big fixtures to Mbombela stadium.
Playing a team like Chiefs at Mbombela stadium it can only favours the “Glamour
Boys”. Host team even get booed at some stages. We all know that sport has
become business than just a sport. The duo (Wits and Black Aces) is aware that
they will do well in terms of sales since Mbombela stadium is much bigger than
their normal venues.
Irrespective of
the attendance, the stands separation might be the thing we are in need of at
our stadiums. For a country that has
hosted World cup and AFCON it can be easy to achieve stands separation. All it
takes is an initiation. It is about time home teams get a good atmosphere
irrelevant of the opponent. I anticipate a squib that might not explode today,
but prevention is better than cure. Home and away stands are the solutions and
good innovation.
By Ntokozo Skhosana
Follow me on twitter @Ntophonic
