System is offline | Chaos as Durban fans scramble for Nedbank Cup final tickets
Desperate for tickets Scores of soccer fans patiently wait in snaking queues outside different Shoprite outlets in and around Durban to purchase tickets for the highly-anticipated Nedbank Cup final between arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates at Moses Mabhida Stadium this coming Saturday. Photo: Tumi Pakkies/Independent Newspapers
Image: Tumi Pakkies/Independent Newspapers
Chaos reigned on Monday as desperate Durbanites scrambled for tickets for this weekend’s Nedbank Cup final between Soweto rivals Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs at Moses Mabhida Stadium.
The PSL announced last week that tickets would be available from Monday, just five days before the final between the two most supported teams in the country.
Those who tried to buy tickets online had no luck as both Computicket and Opentickets websites crashed due to the heavy volume. There were further issues reported on social media when those who were lucky enough to purchase tickets did not receive confirmation emails.
By 5pm on Monday, Computicket had closed sales, while Opentickets was down.
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Due to the problems online, scores of Durbanites took to Shoprite and Checkers and were met with snaking queues.
Lungelo Buthelezi from Umlazi, who was at Checkers, said he’d been queuing there since 9am, but they didn't know what was going on.
“I’m here because I’m eager to watch the game on Saturday. I’ve been here since 9 am, but no one’s told us anything about what’s going on. I tried to buy tickets online, but the system was down,” Buthelezi told IOL.
The last time the two teams met in Durban was for the 2014 MTN8 final, where Kaizer Chiefs prevailed 1-0 thanks to a first-half Tefu Mashamaite goal. That was the last time the cup was won by the mighty Amakhosi.
Orlando Pirates, on the other hand, are bidding to win the trophy for a third year in a row. In 2023, Jose Riveiro’s men beat Sekhukhune United 2-1 at Loftus Versfeld in Tshwane. And last year, a memorable last-minute strike by Relebohile Mofokeng saw Pirates beat the mighty Mamelodi Sundowns 2-1 in dramatic fashion.
IOL Sport