Are we ever going to see the Soweto derby going as smooth from start to finish as some of the major events that have taken place at the gigantic FNB Stadium?
While the supporters of Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates should get a pat in the back for heeding the call and arriving at the crack of dawn at the venue, there are still major glitches and headaches that still need to be attended to, or perhaps all the parties concerned have simply thrown in the towel.
It may sound like a hyperbole but the traffic queues leading to the stadium and the network issues really need a commission of inquiry.
Everything seems so intertwined, with one working against the other. While fans are encouraged to arrive early at the stadium, and as many pitched up around 11am when the gates opened. But then again, what do those fans do for those five hours before kick-off?
They can only stare and hanker at the lush FNB Stadium grass like a bunch of malnourished and half-starved cows. This is because there is a very strict anecdote in the PSL compliance manual that prohibits any form of action on the pitch ahead of a game.
In the past, there used to be curtain raisers. Retired legends used to entertain crowds and would take them down memory with their skills.
The likes of Isaac “Shakes” Kungoane, with his mind-altering blind passes, may his soul rest in peace, captivated the attention of admirers from all corners of the country.
Other aging dribbling wizards, with their protruding beer bellies such as Mlungisi “Professor” Ngubani, would caress and fondle the ball leaving you wondering if the ball was glued to his Adidas Copa Mundial boot.
If it was not the old toppies, it was the Chappies Little League Under-14 or Under-12 laaities with their oversized kit and kindergarten skills. A bunch of overeager tiny-tots trying to impress the crowd that they were the next generations.
Indeed they were, as a young Steve Lekoelea, Jabu “Shuffle” Mahlangu and other kids from the Vaal, Soweto, Daveyton and other Transvaal kasis were plucked from those curtains before cup finals and huge encounters between heavyweights in the form of Kaizer Chiefs,
Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns, Moroka Swallows and AmaZulu, Hellenic, Bloemfontein Celtic, Cape Town Spurs, Wits University and Qwaqwa Stars to a certain extent.
That was the time Rastafari sensation Lucky Dube would sprint across the pitch with his mic and band, or even better, pop queen Brenda Fassie would serenade the crowd with her ditties.
Those performances were a lekker starter and left the fans with a huge appetite for the main event. It was a day well spent and more than value for the ticket money spent.
But these days, entertainment is limited because of certain clauses in the compliance manual. The fun is limited to washed up musicians and sleep-inducing DJs who are restricted and can only perform on the touchline.
Also, it’s always difficult to choose the right mix of entertainers because football is attended by a potpourri of blue collar, white collar and mid-collar, if we can call it that. Rugged minibus taxis and craggy bakkies are parked next to snazzy Range Rovers, Porsches and Bentleys – all attending the same event.
While it is safe and sensible to arrive early while the chickens are still sleeping, there’s very little reward for that sacrifice.
Organisers and the clubs will have to think out of the box and come up with a magic trick. To the fans, yes, change is painful and not one of the mostly easily accepted processes.
But digital ticketing is the future, and the world is evolving and we cannot be left behind.
As tedious as it is, the system is for the fans’ safety, enjoyment and convenience. The organisers must also join the party in terms of traffic control and network bottleneck.
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