Football fans urged for early arrival at FNB Stadium

By Velile Mnyandu
1st November 2024

Football supporters in Johannesburg have been identified as the root cause of traffic congestion which results in delays in match kick-off times and it’s been suggested that they can learn a thing or two from their rugby counterparts.

This was the view of JMPD Director Angie Mokasi when she addressed the Carling Knockout press conference at the PSL offices yesterday.

Mokasi says the biggest difference and challenge around football fans is that they only flock to the stadium just before kick-off as compared to rugby fans.

"Let me give you a background when it comes to rugby, particularly for Ellis Park. Rugby's kick off is 5 o'clock, our peak when it comes to participants coming to the game is between 10 and 12:30 that is our peak,” Mokasi said.

“If you attend such games you know that by 3 o'clock it's a full house, two hours before the kick off. With soccer it's different, our soccer fans, 30 minutes, an hour before the kick off, it's only that time that we are experiencing our peak."

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With the quarterfinal match between Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns at FNB Stadium tomorrow evening already sold out, there’s been pleas from the authorities for fans to arrive early at the stadium.

"And when you look into the design of FNB Stadium, it's in an urban area and the roads are narrow. Even if we were to convert a particular road into free lanes, however when you go into the parking, it's just one lane into the parking,” she added.

“So, the three lanes now are reduced to one and then that's on its own causes delays. So, we need to start encouraging our soccer fans to start arriving earlier for such games especially if the game is going to be a sold-out event."