It’s been two seasons with no fans. Image: @ThabisoMishack
DStv Premiership: ‘Without fans, there’s no football’ says Cape Town City’s Comitis
DStv Premiership legend and Cape Town City CEO John Comitis has spoken the gospel we all want to hear: ‘Without fans, there’s no football.’
It’s been two seasons with no fans. Image: @ThabisoMishack
What is it? Two seasons now since we last packed in football stadiums for DStv Premiership action? It’s unbelievable.
COMITIS: DSTV PREMIERSHIP DECISION-MAKERS MUST BE PRESSURED TO BRING FANS BACK
It’s true that the devastating COVID-19 pandemic has punished football and global society. But have DStv Premiership decision-makers been on the ball as far as supporting the return of fans to stadiums?
According to Cape Town’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) officer John Comitis, the league’s frustrating delay to lead football fans back to the stadiums to watch the DStv Premiership is killing the game.
“Well, I can certainly say that we are lagging here, I think we need to take initiative now and start putting a bit of pressure on the decision-makers to allow us to go completely back to normality in the way we run our football in this country,” Comitis said on 2000 FM.
“Football without the fans is not a football, it’s starting to affect the psyche of the players, the morale of clubs,” he added.
“We seem to just be going through the motions, it feels like we are having practice matches. And meanwhile, all over the world, the stadiums are packed.
“When you watch all over the world, we’ve already experienced the discipline we have in that bubble and how we managed that.
“I think we are capable of being able to run an event with a 50% capacity on the stadium in a very responsible way. And I think we should start pushing the right buttons to get this to happen.”
DSTv Premiership legend and Cape Town City CEO John Comitis.
NATHI MTHETHWA: PSL NOT READY TO REOPEN STADIUMS
Meanwhile, Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Nathi Mthethwa has dismissed calls for the PSL to reopen stadiums to fans.
While limited numbers of fans were allowed into the stadium for the last two Bafana Bafana matches and the MTN 8 Final, the top-flight is yet to open its doors.
Some have called for the unrestricted return of PSL fans, with clubs struggling after two years of playing without being able to bring in gate receipts. Read the full story here.
