OPINION:SMALL CROWD IN GABORONE DERBY

This was a special past weekend in the football calendar worldwide as it was of derbies, rivalries and top of the table clashes.Locally it was Gaborone derby.

Tickets sold out everywhere even before the weekend. Stadiums were filed to the bream except our very own national stadium which only experienced a small crowd in a derby.

This was between the City rivals Gaborone United and Township Rollers where it was expected to bring the city into a standstill, more so that most of the big games were played on Saturday.

GABORONE DERBY ENJOYS SPOTLIGHT

The game enjoyed the spotlight alone but failed to imitate other derbies around the world which were played in the same weekend.

Starting with the most popular Soweto derby at the Premier Soccer League (PSL), multitudes thronged the stadiums to come witness for themselves a battle between Orlando Pirates and the log leaders Kaizer Chiefs. The FNB stadium was filled to capacity before the weekend, the El Classico in La-Liga Spain also attracted multitudes during their game between Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Coming back home, the top of the table clash in the Debswana first division North between the on form Nico United and Sua Flamingoes also attracted multitudes. Masitaoka and Mochudi Centre Chiefs of Debswana first division south also filled Molepolole stadium to the bream.

It was not so with the biggest game in Botswana at the national stadium. This is a call for a concern as to why this is happening. Why are we failing to pull crowds, at least to games of this magnitude? Is our football unattractive, why have the football people suddenly dumped the game?

GABORONE DERBY USED TO BE THE IT

Turning back the hands of time, crowds used to come to the games, the passion for the game was visible, the drive was there and the players were motivated. The game brought joy and rivalry.

These days it has become so cold, discussions about the game have gone down and the focus has shifted. Football is no longer something people turn to for leisure. What went wrong?

GABORONE DERBY NEEDS NEW STRATEGY

Serious introspection must be put into consideration especially by the leaders of the game. Measures must be put into place after a serious benchmark from other leagues.

We must see and learn how things are being done in other countries to attract people back into the game.

A change of mindset must also be done by both the players the followers and the leaders in order to bring about change in the game.

BY:Phodiso Gaebepe[BA(HONS)IN BROADCASTING AND JOURNALISM/CO FOUNDER OF SPORTSNATION]