The South Africa Premier Soccer League kicked off in spectacular fashion on Friday, with a Greenpoint Stadium double-header concept in Cape Town, that should have been also used for a Bidvest Wits vs Supersport United match at Coca Cola Park Stadium. Wits beat defending champions by a cool 3 goals without reply.
The eye-sore as mentioned earlier, was the size of the crowd. There is something very wrong about African football. Supersport have been South African champions a million times in a row, yet one can count their followers on one hand. There will always be a full house in most Pirates, Chiefs or Celtics matches. Sundowns pull good crowds but are not in the same class.
Orlando Pirates beat new league comers, Vasco Da Gama 2-1, with veteran Sibusiso Zuma playing a pivotal role for the Cape side. Zuma had come back from overseas to join Mamelodi Sundowns, but the move proved to be a big flop despite his R200 000,00 monthly pay cheque. On Friday, he was actually on fire and scored Vasco's only goal. The Buccaneers scored through LuckyLekgwati's acrobatic overhead, just an inch before the goal-line.
The double-header was completed with a Bloemfontein Celtics match against Ajax Cape Town who triumphed 2-0. Celtics were their own enemies missing seater after seater. The atmosphere was vibrant and almost a full house. Is this the answer to small crowds pulled by teams like Supersport, Platinum Stars and Wits?
Frankly, I am not sure how small teams will benefit from the double-header arrangements except with gate taking which I am not sure how they are split. Usually, team fans are a decided lot that are not easily swayed over night.
Platinum Stars were fortunate enough to get an injury time winner from Coldrin Coetzee who had come in as a sub against Mpumalanga Black Aces. The teams seemed headed for a 2-2 draw at Puma's Atlantic Stadium in Witbank.
Kaizer Chiefs beat Golden Arrows 2-0 at the Rand Stadium and Mamelodi Sundowns overcame Moroka Swallows by the same margin, Zimbabwean Mushekwi scoring a debut brace. Santos and Sunday Chidzambwa's Free State Stars paled to a goalless draw.
By far the game of the week was the KZN derby, Amazulu vs Maritzburg. The action packed match was deadlocked at 2-2 when an injury time clinical strike separated the boys from men, to win it 3-2. Former Chiefs defender had a spectacular own goal. Simphiwe Mkhonza lobed over his goalie when the ball struck him unawares. Pernell McKop should be pleased with the performance of his goalkeeper.
As a matter of interest, Bafana Bafana match tickets will cost R50,00 minimum. There was a comparison of Rugby test match tickets that go for R350,00. Maybe while figures don't lie, the catchment areas differ, but of course, R50,00 for an international event is not much.
Are for the idea of double headers to boost least supported teams?
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