Benni McCarthy calls for stadiums to open: Why only 2000?

It’s been reported that government could soon confirm that stadiums attendance will be allowed at 50% capacity for vaccinated fans. Ever since the start of the pandemic in 2020, sports fans have been deprived of live sporting attendance, with the likes of cricket, rugby and soccer events predominantly taking place behind closed doors.

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More recently, a limit of 2,000 supporters have been allowed at stadiums, but there has been an increasing call for this figure to be drastically increased and to open up the sports grounds around the country as the Covid-19 situation has stabilised this year.

According to iDiski Times, impeccable sources have indicated that a staggered approach could start with 50% crowd attendances this month, followed by 75% the month after and even 100% after that depending on the progress and success of the roll-out.

McCarthy has now joined in with calls to open up stadium attendance, but said it would be good to have at least 2,000 available for football matchjes.

“Why 2000? The rest of the world had been in full swing for one year. We party, we go out, clubbing. People are smoking and having full-on sex, but there are still no fans in the stadium,” said McCarthy.

“I’m just over the moon. I’m so happy for the fans because I think they deserve it. They’ve been extremely patient to get to football matches,” added McCarthy.

“That is going to be exceptionally nice, seeing people, and I don’t know how I’m going to be handling someone shouting ‘hey, wena voetsek man’.

“We’re just happy to have the Usuthu fans back at the stadium, and it will also give the players a morale booster because they want to show their talent to the fans. At the moment, we entertain empty seats.

“The players just want to showcase their talent and show the people what they are all about, have the fans cheering for them. I’m looking forward to that,”

Prior to the recent Soweto derby between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs, Deputy Minister of Sport Nocawe Mafu first told iDiski Times that the return of fans to the stadiums in large numbers was imminent. 

“Our people must just hang in there. We had hoped by now that probably we would have had at least 50% spectators on the stadiums. But remember, what has happened is that the National Disaster Act which is governing the COVID-19 controls, the President announced that they’re they’re doing away with it as the government and therefore that has affected the timelines. 

“But we really hope that we will be able to come back to those timelines in due course, hang on there, we know, we know, we are with you. `we also want to go back by the way to those stadiums. I wanted to go to the derby tomorrow as well (Laughing),” said Mafu at the time. 

Recent indications from the rugby world has also suggest sports stadiums could soon be filled out again

SA Rugby President Jurie Roux has also indicated that they soon expected good news in terms of the stadium attendance, with tickets going on sale for the Springboks’ home Tests in 2022, as well as for the Sevens World Cup in September.

“The global vaccine roll-out has allowed the return of capacity crowds around the world and we’re expecting that experience to return to South Africa by the time of the Sevens Rugby World Cup,” said Roux.

“It has been a long, dark winter for the Sevens in South Africa, but this marks our bursting back into the light.

“Health and safety of athletes and fans will be of the highest priority, and the current expectation is that all attendees will need to be vaccinated to gain entry. That requirement may be dropped in due course at which point the requirement will be removed. 

“We are envious of sports events around the world, which we have seen the return to full capacity stadia and are very much looking forward to enjoying that experience in Cape Town once again.”

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