A record late rush, precipitated perhaps by defending champions Kaizer Chiefs raising their waning stocks with a 5-2 midweek win over Free State Stars, on Friday sent ticket sales sky-high and ensured an 80 000-strong sell-out crowd for the big Premier Soccer League (PSL) derby against Orlando Pirates.
Pirates brand manager Zodwa Khoza urged those without tickets not to turn up at the FNB Stadium on Saturday and warned that strict security measures will be implemented to ensure spectators behave in an orderly fashion — inside and outside the ground.
A spokesperson at the ticket outlet confirmed that an unprecedented number of almost 40 000 tickets had been sold on the day as derby mania regained its traditional intensity.
Chiefs, meanwhile, were ensconced on the banks of an undisclosed river for their pre-match training camp, presumably in order to achieve the tranquility and right frame of mind for the daunting undertaking against the in-form PSL log leaders.
The exact location of the haven on the river remained undisclosed.
”The players were there before the Free State Stars game,” disclosed one official, ”and it did them a world of good. Hopefully it will happen again.”
The big question surrounding the Pirates squad — also gathered in isolation at a special training camp — is whether Buccaneers’ controversial midfield dynamo, Benedict ”Little Napoleon” Vilakazi, will be included in the starting line-up.
Vilakazi, embroiled in a criminal case in which he is facing a charge of rape, has accordingly been ”rested” from the Buccaneers’ line-up for the past two games against Santos and Bloemfontein Celtic.
”He’s in the squad of 18 for the Chiefs game,” said Pirates general manager Phil ”Mr Jones” Setshedi on Friday night, ”but a decision has still to be taken whether he will be in the starting line-up.” — Sapa