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Sell-out at Durban stadium opener

Posted: 2009-11-25 09:57

Tickets for the Absa Premiership match between AmaZulu and Maritzburg United that officially opens the new Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Sunday have been sold out.

Although the Durban Stadium can accommodate more than 50 000 fans, only 22 000 tickets were made available for the clash.

Usuthu PRO, Philani Mabaso, tells KickOff.com it is the biggest crowd they have had, at least in the last three seasons.

“It is exciting. I mean selling out the tickets five days before the game. We took a decision to put out only 22 000 tickets, because it is the first game there, which means we have to look at the issue of safety and making sure we do it right the first time,” Mabaso says.

“Even when we have played Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, we have never had such a big crowd at home. The highest we got against Pirates in the last three seasons was 11 000 and Chiefs it was 15 000,” he continues.

“The only time we sold out was when we played our first game in Ulundi Stadium last season against Free State Stars, which only takes 8 000 and they only had 300 to our 7 700, so it shows that people in this province love football and being a part of the first ever game at Moses Mabhida motivates them too,” Mabaso says.

“It is so exciting that even our game against Platinum Stars today at Chatsworth has been forgotten,” he adds.

Tiyani wa ka Mabasa

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Recent Comments: 22

jjokocha: 2009-11-25 10:30

U can't have many supporters unless u change this tribal name, Amazulu.

Gatyeni: 2009-11-25 10:43

The zulu tribe contributes the highest population in SA. ppl from KZN are mad about amazulu, and arrows so why change the name.

I will also be in the stadium to witness the oficial opening of this world class stadium. See u there jj

james: 2009-11-25 11:12

How can you call the situation where you sell tickets less than half capacity of stadium a sold-out. Teams like Amazulu will never have business sense but only run traditionally. Why can't they just fill the stadium or at list leave thousand seats as they say they are trying things. The stadium will be half empty moss..

Proffessor : 2009-11-25 11:44

GREAT NEWS

mm: 2009-11-25 12:03

50 000 fans, only 22 000 tickets on sale - WHY, please put more tickets on SALE, we are still looking for TICKETS. MORE TICKETS ON SALE PLEASE!!

mm: 2009-11-25 12:04

50 000 fans, only 22 000 tickets on sale - WHY, please put more tickets on SALE, we are still looking for TICKETS. MORE TICKETS ON SALE PLEASE!!

jjokocha: 2009-11-25 12:09

Gatyeni, don't be emotional about this matter. Yes indeed the Zulu tribe is the biggest tribe in RSA, ironically the zulu teams are (among)the least followed. That being true then it means some none zulu teams (let's call them for argument sake) are drawing a huge following from Zulu people. Therefore the Zulu teams (Amazulu, Thand Zulu, etc) should try source the following from non zulu people. I personally do not c any non zulu people supporting Amazulu and Thanda Zulu. There is nothing wrong, as far as soccer is concerned, with the name Lammontville Golden arrows, Marittzburg united, etc.

jjokocha: 2009-11-25 12:32

kolobe: 2009-11-25 12:34

inkatha,amazulu...these names must just be changed if zulus in kzn want the rest of sa to embrace what the come up with

Jeffrey: 2009-11-25 14:03

All you guys are mad, how do u know that there are more Zulu people in SA, just because Zulu pple force other pple to speak their language and the SABC (Such A Boring Character)is helping them as well it does not mean there are many as far as I know it Sotho pple rule SA. Le sa bolela masepa hier so

Jeffrey: 2009-11-25 14:08

All you mother ****ers you need to come to PE and see how many Zulus are there, The Sotho pple contribute more population in SA they just dnt ****en act stupid like this zulus

Jeffrey: 2009-11-25 14:10

La nyela mazulu

Pearl: 2009-11-25 14:13

Jeffery..thats so inhumane of you 2 say u ***got

Thokozani: 2009-11-25 14:14

It said that the reason foe selling less tickets is for testung logistics and safety in the stadium..why can't people understand that?

Thokozani: 2009-11-25 14:23

I don't understand why the webmaster is letting these tribal comments go through...it's really not amusing..ngingumZulu futhi ngiyaziqhenya naglokho...so i really feel bad when such things as "stupid Zulus" are said...Can't we just comment about soccer?

I don't think anything is wrong with the name of the team...if it was..what then with the names like Kaiser Chiefs, Jomo Cosmos? Does this mean these teams must be supported by the families only? ..musani ukukhombisa ubuphukuphuku benu man...yazi niyanginyanyisa...sies!!!

Jeffrey: 2009-11-25 14:31

Pearl what the **** are you saying,

Jeffrey: 2009-11-25 14:43

You pple you are not talking facts, jst tell us how do you know there are more zulus than Sotho pple in SA. I speak zulu everyday here at work so ke mo zulu, la nyela

New Kid: 2009-11-25 15:18

This was a chance for these 2 teams to make as much money as possible out of tickets sales. They could have sold 40 000- they let the opportunity go.
Remember, you will never ever again have a chance to sell as many tickets. You could have apitalised

Jacob: 2009-11-25 15:22

If the matches Amazulu plays against the soweto giants attract between 11000 and 15000, then lets give the rookies Mpumalanga black Aces credit. Aces when playing KC and Sundowns filled Puma stadium with +/-35000 fans.

Mr. Mabasa you still have a long way Amazulu are an old team, but you still struggle to attract fans to watch football. Kahle we ndoda!

New Kid: 2009-11-25 15:24

This is like buying a 50-seater bus and say you will start by transporting 10 people to check the safety of the bus. Are they scared that the stadium will fall?

You are exposing yourselves that you have never handled big crowds. Shame

Sol: 2009-11-25 15:43

OK jef! you are so RIGHT, i've just checked my sources - at this very moment there are more Sotho's in SA. Now let's have some peace.

ntlakuso: 2009-11-25 16:52

james: Sold out is for the tickets not the capacity.