ARE BOTSWANA FOOTBALL FANS NOT VIGOROUS?
BY:Kabelo Seleka
GABORONE:Love is blind,so is a typical Serie A fan accessing Christiano Ronaldo in an open play,and no,not in Botswana football.
Following 2-1 walloping of the weeping boys of South African elite football Kaizer Chiefs by local league champions Township Rollers in an international pre-season friendly game at a newly built Jamali Stadium,the fanatics remained not so vigorous.
Despite the all exotic glamourus stars affair,re-introduction of alcohol and a fence-less stadia, more or less 8 000 Popa fans remained overpowered by few 100s Kaizer Chiefs Mafikeng branch faithfuls.
In an effort by Rollers think-tanks to boost the team,the club has assembled a drum choir to motivate the blue train as it navigates through the field to the goalpost.
The Rollers fans oozed to the stadium in large numbers only to be dominated by few Chiefs fans. More so that Popa fans joined Amakhosi’s choir after the game.This could be attributed to an ideal that maybe Rollers are also Chiefs fans.
Usually in top notch matches abroad and other African states host teams are usually charged for fans invasion of the playing field yet there is a fence barrier which is not erected in Jamali Stadium and recommended by FIFA. Despite goals from Kaone VanderWesthuizen and Tumisang Orebonye Popa fans remained cool as ever rather than invading the ground.
Nonetheless Radio Botswana football analyst Fabian Zulu,narrated that Botswana is not yet ready to have a stadium without a barrier between the playing field and the supporters stands.Zulu appreciated that since it is at the genesis its teachable and doable to do so.He also stressed out that alcohol ban lifting in stadium is good as it will bring back football lovers to the stadiums.
“Botswana Football is not used to that,it will take time for them to adapt to that(fence less playing field) but everything has got a beginning even today’s game has shown gore ke batho baba ntseng jang.”Alluded Zulu.
Ladies Double Action football team mentor Alex Molefe said that we have a lot of work to do irregardless of today game as we out to be educated of this FIFA recommended stadiums.
In his post match interview,Rollers new mentor Tomas Trucha noted that Batswana are a friendly nation with good morals and high value systems thus not reciting to “hooliganism”.
“Generally Botswana football fans are friendly people,they are very educated.”Said Trucha.
Renowned football administrator Ashford Mamelodi lamented in not so many words that the fans are energetic as evident by the turn up to Popa and Amakhosi game. Ashford further pointed out that it is doable to have an open field matches in Botswana without fans invading the field.
The 10 000 capacity stadium is reportedly the first phase of the “Rollers City” where hotels,restaurants,a mall and recreational parks are to be built.
