Bloemfontein
The Free State finally has a representative in the Premier Soccer League following years of football starvation.
The match between hosts Marumo Gallants and Kaizer Chiefs brought style and glamour to Mangaung, the City of Roses. From the idolised local legend Ganda Ganda whispering sweet nothings to the sultry Chiefs Marketing Director Jessica Motaung, to out of town rollers announcing their arrival with the roar of their exotic big engine machines.
The sizzling sound of meat on braai stands and the thick aroma which filled the air, as vendors prepared food to feed the hungry supporters who, for a few years, have been starved for professional football in the province.
Even Premier of the Free State province Premier Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae, an ardent football fan herself, was not about to miss out on the excitement and showed up for the much-anticipated season opener.
Moments before kick-off of their match against Kaizer Chiefs on Saturday, 14 October 2024, birds of the sky, swallows, flew at a rather low level. A strange irony is that Marumo Gallants, the local lads, bought the PSL status of the erstwhile Swallows Football Club.
As the two sides walked out into the pitch to raucous cheering from supporters, the heavens opened up. It began to drizzle, signalling, perhaps, the rebirth of football in the province.
The match finally kicked off and was played at a frantic pace. The rain drops seemed to awaken the supporters. Not that the home supporters needed any awakening, as they belted song after song.
They evoked the spirit of the much-loved Petrus Molemela with song dedicated to him. “A re yalo, Ntate Molemela. O itse, re eme, re jike, re tshwarane ka matsoho, a re yalo, Ntate Molemela!” so went the song, which reverberated around the 46 000-seater Toyota stadium, which was filled to the rafters.
Except for a few pitch invaders whose conduct was unacceptable, it was generally a great day.
The visitors, Kaizer Chiefs, won the match by two goals to one, but the winners were the supporters who evidently enjoyed the action and the vendors who were able to eke out a decent living.
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