Movement to Reopen Stadiums to the Public Starts to Gain Momentum

• The public is chomping at the bit to return to stadiums to watch their favourite sports teams after nearly two years of not doing so
• They have supporters in high places, like Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema and Amazulu director Manzini Zungu
• The only football matches since March 2020 to have allowed fans into venues, albeit a limited amount, were Bafana Bafana games at the end of last year, and the MTN8 Final last November

It appears that South African sports fans are itching to get back into stadiums to watch their favourite teams.

The famous and the unknown have expressed their opinions in favour of this way forward on the back of encouraging developments in the fight against Covid-19. The South African government has done away completely with the lockdown, while millions of citizens have also received multiple vaccines.

For instance, Amazulu director Manzini Zungu backed Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema's call for the reopening of stadiums, as per TimesLIVE.

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Zungu said on his Twitter account:

"Julius Malema has spoken! Thank you ⁦@Julius_S_Malema! We will push for the PSL to open the stadiums. It is in the best interest of football that fans come back. They are the rightful owners of the game."

Malema, who was speaking at an EFF rally at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, implored President Cyril Ramphosa and other leaders to make a plan as soon as possible in typically fiery fashion.

According to Goal.com, Malema said:

“We call on the leadership of the PSL to stop being scared and cowardice and challenge this government. They must not seek to be liked. It must challenge for the opening of the stadiums. Political parties have been filling stadiums but stadiums are not open for entertainment.

"Why is the PSL leadership quiet, while the political parties are being in the stadiums, yet soccer clubs are not allowed to be at the stadiums. That is absolute nonsense, they destroy the only bread that the people of South Africa have. We want our soccer back, we want our entertainment back, we want our festivals back, we want the economy open for all of us, for the youth of KwaZulu-Natal to get jobs back."

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The article also confirmed that a limited amount of supporters were allowed into the same venue for the MTN8 Final between Mamelodi Sundowns and Cape Town City. Bafana Bafana matches saw the entrance of 2 000 fully vaccinated supporters into Soccer City at the backend of last year.

Why the Premier Soccer League can’t have fans but the Philly's Games could

With politicians and club administrators asking for the reopening of stadiums, the Premier Soccer League has explained why this is still prohibited.

PSL chairperson Dr Irvin Khoza recently addressed the media in which he provided an update as to why there would be no fans at games just yet.

As reported by Sports Brief, the organisation came under fire for its lack of fans while the hugely popular Philly's Game did.