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BIG DERBY TICKETS SELL LIKE HOT CAKES

16/09/2018 03:29:00 BY CHRIS DLAMINI

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MBABANE – In every dark cloud, there is a silver lining. This adage proves true for the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE), which has introduced its football games’ tickets presale for the first time in its history. The whole process nearly backfired on them as fans flooded the newsroom with calls, while others called journalists and editors to say they could not find the tickets in the designated points.

As soon as this was conveyed to the PLE at around 9.24am, fans started getting the tickets and by 11am, the organisation’s Chairman Peter ‘Touch’ Magagula confirmed the company in charge of the process confirmed 4 000 tickets for tomorrow’s grand opening had been sold.

Giants Manzini Wanderers will open their season against Green Mamba at 1:30pm before the game of the land, the capital city derby pitting neighbours Mbabane Swallows and Mbabane Highlanders at 3:30pm. This will be at the Somhlolo National Stadium in Lobamba, with gates opening at 10am.
The tickets for tomorrow’s games cost E40.

“We immediately contacted our service provider and they gave the stations where they ended up setting shop to sell the tickets. They had been available at Lobamba but we had challenges in Mbabane where the outlet was finally Galp Filling Station as opposed to the post office and the bus rank,” explained Magagula.

He said in Mbabane, Galp was the place to get the tickets, while at Lobamba they were available at the police station and Bhunu Mall’s police post in Manzini, while they were also setting up at Matsapha, Mahhala.

“They are also available at the Lobamba Filling Station and soon more outlets, especially the filling stations, would sell the tickets going forward. We sincerely apologise for the slight shortcomings, we believe the nation will bear with us as this is completely new to us but we’ll ensure it is convenient for all as we continue with our games,” he said.

Magagula further said he was amused by the fast sale of tomorrow’s tickets, especially because they anticipate the numbers to match those of the Eswatini Charity Cup recently. The Charity Cup sold 16 000 tickets and a further 1 000 had to be provided.

“The stadium can take up to 17 000 people, so we have prepared 16 000 tickets for the grand opening as we saw what happened in the Charity Cup. Given the time the 4 000 was old, we could have a sold out derby by early morning tomorrow (today),” he said.

By 8pm, over 9 000 tickets had already been sold and Magagula said they were adamant by 10am today, it will be a sold out grand opening. PLE CEO Simanga Nhleko also reiterated Magagula’s words, saying the public could now easily access the tickets in the aforementioned stations.
He explained they would still be available tomorrow for those travelling from distant places where the tickets are yet to be distributed but not the opening games.

He also explained that the public will not be allowed to park their cars inside the stadium except for those coming for duty and their guests. This effectively means that fans will have their cars parked outside but security will be available.