One of The South African Tragedies

it was the 11 day of April 2001 when happiness was turned into sorrow ... it was a warm and beutiful Wednesday evening, two of South Africans most popular , favorite and big soccer teams Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs were playing, every one from young children, youth people ,young adults to adult soccer lovers couldnt wait for that moment to watch two of their favorite teams, from my township and other townships people were betting with money, words some with possetions like cars that their favorite team will be the one coming in victory.

That night left 43 families wonded their loved one's died in the scene 158 being victims of the tragedy,the source of the problem was tickets for access to the stadium that was sold illegaly by corrupt officials who wanted to make extra cash for their pockets....


8:00 on a dot the match began in the Ellis park 62000 seater stadium with 80000 soccer lovers squeezed like oranges in a bag and outside the stadia there were still a number of crowds who wanted to enter and enjoy the game. The match proceeded and in the 14Th minute the Kaizer Chiefs crowed cheered celebrating their first Goal while they still jumping arround 2 minutes later Orlando Pirates silenced them with a magnificant goal and thats were the disaster began ,

The crowd outside started to
enter the stadium by force it started to push the gates and they stapped on top of each other that also affected the crowd inside. people got hurt and some lost their lives as people were stepping on top of each other, the story that saddened me was the Story of a man who came with his son for the first time to a soccer match to give his son some roots of the family so that the son can follow in his roots little did they know that it was the last time they see each other the father passed away now his family lost a brother, a father and a bread winner as he was the only one employed in his family.

Although the were recovery programs for the families but we cant replace the lost lives ........May their souls rest in peace.