The country is still basking in the historic achievement of Cranes after the team ended four decades of agony by reaching the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.
The nationwide party started on Sunday after Uganda defeated Comoros 1-0 and continued yesterday with fans in pleasant shock that Uganda will finally compete with Africa’s best sides at the Cup of Nations in Gabon next year.
It was a proud moment for all Ugandans and one that will be spoken of for ages.
But while the country celebrates a truly special sporting moment, there was chaos at the stadium’s gates that must not go unchecked.
Namboole was constructed as a 40,000-seater facility and as such should not accommodate fans more than the number that was intended by its Chinese engineers.
However, the stadium for the umpteenth time appeared to accommodate nearly 50,000 fans while others who had tickets were left frustrated at the gates after they failed to get in to watch the match.
By sitting more than the stipulated number, the ground risked a stadium disaster. We have seen stadiums collapse in Africa and should never allow a situation where the stadium is made to accommodate a number of fans way above what it should actually hold.
And you can’t help but feel for the thousands of fans who made their way to the ground hoping to watch the match, only to be told the stadium was full.
Why should Fufa sell tickets way beyond the capacity of the ground? It is not the first time it is happening and until the authorities act fast, Fufa will continue a dangerous trend which ultimately rips off fans.
There have also been cases of fans who paid for VVIP tickets arriving in the stadium to be welcomed by news that there was no space in the most expensive section of the stadium.
With Uganda qualifying, it is probable that a number of wrongs could go unnoticed. That would be very unfortunate because the recurrent trend of unnecessary confusion at the gates frustrates fans; the very people who cheer themselves mad to give Cranes players energy in matches.
In fact, it is arguable that Cranes fans contributed as much as all other factors in returning Uganda to Africa’s most prestigious club competition.
By selling tickets way above the capacity of the stadium, it would imply that the federation disrespects the fan who spends months making savings of Shs25,000 to go support his country at Namboole.
It is a habit that must be arrested.
The issue: Football tickets.
Our view: By selling tickets way above the capacity of the stadium, it would imply that the federation disrespects the fan who spends months making savings of Shs25,000 to go support his country at Namboole.
Source: Daily Monitor
