Tickets sales for blockbuster Soweto Derby in Durban marred glitches

DURBAN is gearing for an epic football showdown with the Nedbank Cup final between arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates will take place this Saturday at the iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Fans from across the country flocked to Shoprite outlets yesterday to secure tickets for one of the continent’s most anticipated derbies between the Soweto-based teams.

This resulted in snaking queues around Shoprite outlets, especially in Durban, in what has been billed as a "historic" clash between two powerhouse football teams, and a boon for the city's hospitality and related industries.

However, ticket sales were marred by technical issues. Computicket, the official ticketing provider, experienced repeated system failures soon after sales opened at 10am. 

Many fans, some of whom had taken the day off, were left frustrated as transactions failed or were completed without delivering tickets.

On X (formerly Twitter), Computicket explained, “Due to an overwhelming volume of traffic, we experienced temporary delays caused by pushback issues from our host system. These have since been resolved.”

At Shoprite Umlazi V, Kaizer Chiefs supporter Smiso Mkhize was among those who waited for hours. “I took leave from work to get my ticket. I’ve been here since the early hours and I’m still waiting. This is history in the making, I have to be there,” he said.

Despite the setback and the odds against Kaizer Chiefs ahead of the contest, Mkhize remains hopeful. “This is our moment. It’s do or die for us, Kaizer Chiefs fans.”

In Durban’s city centre, the queue outside Shoprite on Dr Pixley KaSeme Street was already lengthy by 9am. 

Portia Mbhele, an Orlando Pirates loyalist, said: “It’s a massive game—more than nine years since we faced Chiefs in a knockout final. We’re taking this one, no doubt. This is our season.”

The build-up to the match has only intensified following last weekend’s league result, where Pirates edged Chiefs 2-1 in a tightly contested match at Soccer City, Johannesburg. 

Chiefs, affectionately known as Amakhosi or the Glamour Boys, come into the final wounded but determined to end a decade-long trophy drought.

Fans are pinning their hopes on Tunisian coach Nasreddine Nabi to turn things around and restore the club’s former glory.

On the other hand, Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro, who will leave the club at the end of the season, was aiming for a triumphant farewell. 

Riveiro has already secured three MTN8 titles and two Nedbank Cup successes during his tenure, and was eager to add another to his collection.

To curb ticket hoarding and resale at inflated prices, the Premier Soccer League implemented a four-ticket limit per person. 

While no formal announcement was made on ticket availability, the measure might have contributed to the system overload. Still, it helped prevent bulk buying, which has plagued major matches in the past.

Beyond the pitch, the final promises a boost to Durban’s hospitality and entertainment sectors. The match follows closely on the heels of the Durban Music Fest After Party, headlined by Rick Ross, also hosted at Moses Mabhida Stadium, over the past weekend.

Local businesses are expecting a busy weekend. Zinhle Mqadi, CEO of Max’s Lifestyle in Umlazi, said the venue was ready to host soccer-loving people. “It’s going to be a weekend of fun. Big games like this bring fans from all over. We’re encouraging supporters to wear their kits and join us in the celebrations.”

Rosemary Anderson, the chairperson of the Federated Hospitality Association of Southern Africa (Fedhasa), said: "Sporting events are a major driver of global tourism, with sports tourism accounting for an estimated 10% of the international travel market. This popular sporting event on Saturday will attract thousands of visitors to Durban, significantly boosting hotel occupancy, restaurant bookings, and overall hospitality sector revenues in Durban and surrounding areas.  A welcome boost for Durban tourism in autumn"

As the city braces for the clash, the atmosphere was already electric in many parts of Durban and across the country. 

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