600 FNB branches in South Africa failed soccer fans today. I waited at my branch for hours with students, cops, lecturers, government employees, farmers, housewives and South Africans from other walks of life only to be told that ‘the system was down’. We waited with Job-like patience, hoping against hope that we could buy a ticket for a seat at stadiums built with the people’s tax money.
But it was all for naught. Precious few tickets were sold to us and a few thousand to South Africans at FNB branches nationwide. What a disgrace. Had such a mess happened in Italy there would have been riots! So it’s looking increasingly likely that the main place ordinary locals will taste the World Cup is in the Fan Parks . . . providing ‘color’ for tourists and FIFA’s global TV audience. Shame!
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4 replies on “World Cup ticket mess”
Shameful. My brother was supposed to go to an FNB branch in Cape Town today and see what he could do. I’ll report back later today.
A crying shame indeed. If it is like that for South Africans, then it could be more difficult for us here this East African End, though I here that the ticketing situation is much better in Tanzania. Enterprising Kenyan Bus Company, Akamba, has organized for road transport! People are excited across Africa…no one should spoil the party!
I woke up this morning and the first thing I saw on the news in New Zealand was that police had to use pepper spray to hold back mobs of people trying to get tickets. FIFA seems to absolved of any blame in media reporting, with the focus instead on structual problems in South Africa.
It brought back memories of when I was trapped in a mob in Johannesburg Stadium and the police used pepper spray and then mounted police charged into disperse the crowd.
“Looking increasingly likely that the main place ordinary locals will taste the World Cup is in the Fan Parks”? It was always likely. Isn’t that the case with most mega sports events these days?
Marc, you’re right. Corporate Sport does not welcome ordinary folks, even more so in these tough economic times. Nevertheless, the party will happen, as Solomon says, just not in the FIFA stadiums!