The last two Soweto derbies played at the FNB Stadium have really left some of us on the edge of our seats. Sadly, and against the norm, this was not because of the scintillating action, the shibobos and the sublime goals, but because of the risk and danger that was hovering.
The matches, one of the biggest events on the continent, have become so problematic, giving Stadium Management South Africa (SMSA) CEO Bertie Grobbelaar and the organisers more headaches than the respondents at the Madlanga commission.
The first one, played in February last year, survived a catastrophe by the skin of its teeth.
An additional 15 000 supporters entered the venue after fake tickets were sold nonchalantly, as if they were fat cakes outside the stadium. It was a lucrative afternoon and booming business for the nimble-fingered shysters outside the calabash.
The last derby also had its fair share of problems – the traffic jams were a nightmare and the new digital ticketing system that is being implemented by SMSA, resulted in some chaos outside and inside the venue. Some of the scanners were not working; the mobile phone networks were as congested as the Chiefs’ midfield and the checking points as leaky as Bucs goalkeeper Sipho Chaine on a bad day.
There was chaos because of some road closures, and supporters, driving from as far as Mpumalanga, were stuck for hours in the Turfontein, Gold Reef City belt, where the GPS Waze had dumped them from the highways.
Also, the network being a chock-a-block made it difficult for the fans to connect and to produce the Q-Codes to scan their tickets. Some of the scanners did not come to the party, and this frustrated not only the fans but also the organisers.
Many supporters cheated their way inside without going through all three checkpoints because the match had started and Pirates were already sjamboking the hapless Amakhosi.
A wholesome number of fans only put their bums on seats as the halftime approached and when the match was almost over as a contest.
SMSA are steadfast in their approach, and there is no turning back with the implementation of the new ticketing system. They are rectifying and putting stringent measures in place to prevent fraudulent ticket holders and those without tickets from accessing their venues – after all, this is how the world and technology is evolving, and we cannot afford to be left behind.
Today, the system will undergo its second test in the derby, and there will be lots of scrutiny. SMSA is rectifying and putting stringent measures in place to prevent fraudulent ticket holders and those without tickets from accessing the precinct.
But what is more worrying is that the two clubs (Pirates and Chiefs) are not playing a part in terms of educating and sending messages to their supporters. This is left at the door of SMSA to take care of all the aspects: management, security, telecommunications connectivity and communication – preaching to supporters to arrive early and road closure information.
The clubs should be working hand-in-hand with law enforcement agencies, the SAPS, JMPD and the parking security detail, alongside SMSA. The clubs must also get their branches involved in delivering the message of being responsible and to party and celebrate in a more mature way at the derby. They need to be very loud and in your face about it – they have all kinds of platforms and social media avenues to preach the warnings.
This is not a light-hearted matter anymore, and they cannot leave everything in the hands of SMSA and Grobbelaar because that is a recipe for disaster. It will be too easy to point fingers in that direction when things go pear-shaped and when disaster strikes.
- Recent Soweto derbies at FNB Stadium have been tense and nerve-wracking.
- The excitement was not due to thrilling gameplay or spectacular goals.
- Instead, concerns centered around safety risks and danger at the events.
- This situation contrasts with the usual entertaining nature of these matches.
- Full details of the story are available in the e-edition of Sunday World.
An additional 15 000 supporters entered the venue after fake tickets were sold nonchalantly, as if they were fat cakes outside the stadium. It was a lucrative afternoon and booming business for the nimble-fingered shysters outside the calabash.
Also, the network being a chock-a-block made it difficult for the fans to connect and to produce the Q-Codes to scan their tickets. Some of the scanners did not come to the party, and this frustrated not only the fans but also the organisers.
A wholesome number of fans only put their bums on seats as the halftime approached and when the match was almost over as a contest.
SMSA are steadfast in their approach, and there is no turning back with the implementation of the new ticketing system.
Today, the system will undergo its second test in the derby, and there will be lots of scrutiny. SMSA is rectifying and putting stringent measures in place to prevent fraudulent ticket holders and those without tickets from accessing the precinct.
But what is more worrying is that the two clubs (Pirates and Chiefs) are not playing a part in terms of educating and sending messages to their supporters.
