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Football matches hardly ever start on time as kickoff often has to be delayed to allow more spectators to enter the stadium – or because of a bottleneck at the turnstiles. But this is about to change, and it’s all thanks to rugby.
Mamelodi Sundowns hopes to use some of the logistical pointers they picked up from the recent Springboks versus New Zealand game to buck the trend of delayed kickoffs when the Absa Premiership champions host Orlando Pirates on Saturday.
In Sundowns’ most recent home matches – particularly against powerhouses Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs at Loftus Versfeld Stadium – the start had to be rescheduled.
This pattern started in October last year when kickoff was delayed for 20 minutes to allow more spectators to enter the stadium. More than 30 000 attended the game, which Chiefs won 2-1.
Already this season, the Brazilians had the opening match of their campaign against Amakhosi delayed by 15 minutes because of heavy congestion at the turnstiles.
On Saturday, Sundowns’ officials will use what they learnt from the Boks versus All Blacks game when they clash with Pirates.
Communications manager Thulani Thuswa said they might have found a solution to the key challenges.
“We attended the Springboks match to see how they managed traffic control. There were no cars near the stadium,” Thuswa said. “We have improved security and traffic arrangements for the Pirates game.
“The previous games were delayed partly because of construction in and around the stadium. So now that has been completed, there is an easy flow of traffic,” he said.
Thuswa said those who drove to the stadium at the last minute hoping to buy tickets caused the traffic jams.
“Such people affect the flow of traffic. But, again, we call on the fans to adopt a culture of arriving early at the stadium.
“Another challenge is that the stadium is in the city centre and fans compete for space with residents. It is unlike the FNB Stadium, for example, which can effect complete road closures as part of traffic management.”
Loftus, which Sundowns share with the Blue Bulls, has a capacity of 50 000, but Sundowns often cap ticket sales below that figure to comply with the “safety capacity” standards.
Thuswa said tickets for Saturday’s match were on sale at ticketpros.co.za. He said spectators’ tickets would be scanned a few metres from the stadium, and only then would they be allowed into the stadium.
Sundowns played Baroka FC in a Telkom Knockout quarterfinal at Peter Mokaba Stadium yesterday. – Additional reporting by Silver Sibiya
