Football fans who could not get tickets for the MTN8 final in Durban will be able to watch the match for free at a fan zone on the beachfront.
Tickets for the final between Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns at Moses Mabhida Stadium have sold out. Kick-off is at 6pm on Saturday.
The city and the PSL have set up an official Public Viewing Area at the Bay of Plenty on the Durban beachfront. Entry is free, IOL reported.
“For all individuals planning to come to Durban, the PVA will provide a safe and secure space to watch the final, with entertainment available from 12pm to 12am, extending beyond the 90 minutes of the match,” said Dr Zakhi Mkhize.
Mkhize is the acting director of commercial sport and facilities at eThekwini Municipality.
She said fans would not need to rush out of the city centre after the game. They can spend most of Saturday in the secured outdoor area along the beach.
The fan zone will have live performances by artists. A pre-match build-up will start 90 minutes before kick-off. There will also be entertainment at half-time and after the final whistle.
Mkhize said safety would be a top priority at the venue. The area will be run from the Venue Operations Centre command centre at the stadium.
“The event has been fully risk-categorised under the Safety at Sports and Recreation Events Act, 2010,” she said.
“Attendees can expect controlled access points, designated event marshals, clearly demarcated zones, and a strong presence of security personnel and emergency services,” Mkhize added.
She did not say whether fans may bring their own food and drinks. She did point out that there are many places to eat close to the fan zone.
Mkhize said the venue is near restaurants, food outlets, shops and the beachfront’s leisure facilities.
Pirates go into the final as the South African league champions. Sundowns are the reigning African champions.
The city centre and the area around the stadium are set to be busy on Saturday. The same day is Day 2 of the first Test between the Proteas and Australia at Kingsmead.
That cricket Test runs from 9 to 13 October in Durban.
Some pressure on the city will ease because the Sharks are playing away. They face the Stormers in a United Rugby Championship derby in Cape Town at 4pm on Saturday.
Mkhize said the full list of artists performing at the fan zone will be announced soon. She asked supporters to watch for further updates.
Source: this article is based on reporting by IOL Sport. Image: IOL Sport. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice Sports desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Tiyani Mathebula writes about sport for Tzaneen Voice. Tiyani covers Bafana Bafana, the Springboks, the Proteas and the PSL, along with athletics, tennis and local club sport. Match reports and previews focus on results, team news, fixtures and what each game means for South African teams and fans.