It’s amazing what an out of the ordinary experience can do to rejuvenate the spirit.
We all make resolutions to give ourselves something to aim for.
Mine has been to experience as many live events as possible, sporting or otherwise.
I’ve already been a regular at the Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concerts, watched Banyana
Banyana caught the Proteas Test match and obviously, Cape Town City, NFD and ABC Motsepe matches.
AMPED: Cape Town City fans on song
I packed up for Gauteng this past weekend on a mission to go and check out Thohoyandou
for the Nedbank Cup match between Black Leopards and Orlando Pirates.
Yoh ouens, daai plek is veeer jong! But what I can tell you now is that the people of Thohoyandou alone will keep Leopards up this season.
That trip needs a separate column of its own because the drive up with taxis full of Pirates fans that morning and arriving at a crowd of local fans in the afternoon was an experience of its own!
You saw what happened on the pitch, some people might blame the Bucs players but what I can tell you is that it was the crowd that made it difficult for the visiting players to settle.
And the host team took full advantage of that and got the result and progress to the last 16.
The next day was a completely different experience, as I joined the infamous Gwijo Squad at the Pink Day ODI cricket match between the Proteas and Pakistan at Wanderers Stadium on Sunday.
The Gwijo Squad really does add something extra to the overall fan experience.
They remix some classic Xhosa songs and even adapt them and replace some words with player names.
It was just a certain section for now, but imagine if the whole stadium would get involved, it would never be easy to play in SA for any national team.
Getting a meal, snack or a beverage inside the stadium at Thohoyandou was mission impossible.
It was so packed, just thinking about going to the toilet you feared you wouldn’t find your way back to your seat, hahahaha.
Meanwhile, the Wanderers was just as packed, but the spaces between the field and seats made for easier movement around.
There was an ATM, bar, hot dog, chips, burgers on offer in each and every corner of the stadium.
I timed my visit to go and grab six beers, it took me exactly 12 minutes yet I was standing in a line that had eight people in front of me.
COLOURS: Pink ODI fans. Photo: Karen Sandison/African News Agency/ANA
And you know what was special, the people who attended were from all walks of life and different races.
The coolest part is that everyone stuck to the theme and dressed up in something pink.
Yes, some took it to another level with some really crazy costumes, but it was all done in good spirit and raising awareness of Breast Cancer.
Why aren’t we doing these kinds of things in football and why is the stadium experience so swak?
Teams say to arrive early, but when you get there, there is no entertainment or activation to keep you as a fan involved.
The Pink Day match ticket was not cheap, but AKA performed there and it was a full day out at the stadium.
Football is a one-and-half-hour match, but can easily be a three-hour event if clubs really put in the effort.
There’s no need to go and get an AKA, but surely there are enough young performers who want a shot.
I’d been slowly losing my gees for football towards the end of 2018, but this weekend’s experience has inspired me so much. I want to do something special so badly and possibly switch the live football experience light back on!