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On Tuesday, 2 000 vaccinated supporters watched Bafana Bafana beat Ethiopia in the 2022 Qatar Fifa World Cup qualifier at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg.

Since the COVID-19 outbreak began in March last year, it was the first time that sports fans were allowed inside a stadium to watch a live football match.

As soon as tickets went up for the game, they were sold out.

Fans without tickets or vaccination certificates gathered at the gates hoping to get in. Some scuffled with the police, while others were happy to just sit in their cars to be a part of the vibe.

Now, the SA Football Association (SAFA) is setting things up to allow 10 times more fans to come and watch Bafana’s next match at home against Zimbabwe next month, reports TimesLIVE:

TimesLIVE has been reliably informed that there will be more than 20 000 screaming fans when the national team host the Warriors at the same 94 000 capacity venue on November 11.

SAFA communications manager Dominic Chimhavi said given that the return of fans against Ethiopia was a pilot project that turned out to be a success, the association is considering allowing more fans for Bafana’s next match.

…“We have already started preparing for the Zimbabwe game and we are going to engage various stakeholders to suggest increasing the percentage of those attending the next game.”

The only condition is that those 20 000 fans have to be fully vaccinated and carrying their vaccination certificate as proof.

Included in this condition will be the media, security, and vendors, who also have to be fully vaccinated and willing to show proof:

“Not only journalists but everyone involved, including security guards, caterers and so on. No vaccination, no entry.

“Even those mamas who sell pap and vleis at the stadium must be vaccinated, the taxi drivers who shuttle fans to the stadiums must be vaccinated, and members of the media.

“This is a win-win situation for everyone. Get vaccinated and grow the country in every aspect,” said Chimhavi.

Although, the consultation process is still ongoing to approve the exact increase in the number of fans allowed into the next match.

SAFA says that they are working alongside stakeholders to encourage a countrywide vaccination drive, especially the football community:

“That is the only way the football economy can be resuscitated and if we are to return to normal good old days.”

Despite their arguments, it still stands; no vaccination, no entry.

[source:timeslive]