Park and Fight...sorry, Park and Ride (Super 14 Match in Soweto)
I can say with Confidence and Pride that I was part of history today (22/05/2010), at Orlando Stadium in Soweto. The Super 14, Semi-Finals Rugby Match, between the Blue Bulls and the Crusaders. Unfortunately, I only saw 20 minutes of the game...The Bulls won, that is the most important thing, but I want to share my experience with you.
I bought my tickets via the Computicket website. The only physical outlet closest to me is in Hyde Park, where I needed to collect my tickets. At the last minute, I decided to buy tickets for "Park and Ride", eish, big mistake, but my options were limited. Parking for the car at Nasrec was R30 and R25 each per person (4 of us) to use the "Park and Fight", apology, Park and Ride service. DISSATOR!!!
We prepared our self for the traffic jam towards Soweto, which was not too bad. At Nasrec, we produced our parking ticket for the parking, but some of my fellow Blue Bulls supporters, sommer parked on the pavement. We felt, R30 wasted. The area, where the buses were departing for the stadium, was at least a 10 minute walk from where we parked. Upon arrival, we were greeted by chaos, no system, no visible marshals or orderly process to shuttle people to the stadium. It was a fight for space in the next available vacant bus. There was no one to check our tickets or to control the crowd. Free for all - mahala. We paid R25 pp for the bus to the stadium and there was no one to even check whether you have paid for the shuttle/bus to the stadium.
Most of the Bulls supporters on our bus were beyond livid, because the match has already started and we were still stuck in traffic on the bus/shuttle.
Some of the guys eventually ordered the bus driver to stop and we jogged 10 minutes to the stadium, desperate to get to this historic game. We arrived 2 minutes before half time. Gatvol, and disappointed with the logistical arrangements and the expectation to be part of this momentous occasion for South Africa.
The stadium is/was awesome, facilities were great and the supporters exceeded all my expectations. It's not every day that you find a Vuvuzela at a Blue Bulls match, in Soweto nogal. The support for the Bulls was incredible. It is probably, the most black people (Indian, Coloured and African), I have ever seen at a Blue Bulls game. I have been to many games over the years, "my Bloed is mos Blou". Imagine, a white uncle with a Vuvuzela, I really felt Proud to be a South African. Yes there were queues for the toilets and refreshments, but the atmosphere at the stadium made up for all the frustrations.
To the City of Joburg, please sort out all the nightmares, we experienced today, it would be sad if the World Cup visitors have a similar experience.
Thank you to the people in and around the stadium, your friendliness and hospitality made the experience worthwhile.
I know we can do better...just imagine the mood if the Bulls lost!
Unity Beyond Believe....
