Stefanus E.T. Ngolo
Observations from the African Stars and Eeshoke Chula Chula FC match
The most anticipated Dr. Hage Geingob Cup match between Eeshoke Chula Chula FC and African Stars FC took place on Saturday the 19th of November 2023 at Windhoek’s Independence Stadium.
Firstly, I would like to congratulate the event organisers for successfully hosting Dr. Hage Geingob’s Cup. It will go down in history as one of the most attended sports events in Namibian sports history.
On the other hand, I would like to boldly write that the organisers of the event, stadium custodians, sports leaders, and fans have all embarrassed the Namibian nation in front of the visitors (SA Legends), and they must go back to the drawing board and address the following key points in their boardrooms.
Adhering to capacity limits to curb infrastructural damage
An estimated attendance record of 58 945 was recorded at the Dr. Hage Geingob Cup. The question is, how is it possible for a stadium with a capacity of 25 000 to accommodate 58 945 people? If it was possible, would it be safe for both the spectators and the stadium’s architectural structures? Were there possible risks or consequences considered?
A few weeks ago, the Namibia Premier Football League was suspended from hosting soccer games at the Hage Geingob stadium due to vandalism that was caused by poor crowd management and other factors after the league game between Eeshoke Chula Chula FC and African Stars FC.
Exceeding the designated capacity of stadiums places excessive strain and pressure on the architectural or building structure of the stadium. Furthermore, overcrowding the stadium leads to extreme weight on seating areas, stairs, an unbearable load on ablution facilities, and other infrastructure components.
By adhering to capacity limits, we can prevent unnecessary wear and tear on the stadium’s structures, reducing the risk of structural failure and ensuring the longevity of the facility. Namibia is currently struggling with stadium-related issues; most of the stadiums are in a worrisome deterioration state due to various factors such as poor maintenance and stadiums not being utilised responsibly and sustainably.
Prevent stampedes
Stampedes are one of the catastrophic events that can occur in a stadium. When capacity limits are exceeded, congestion and overcrowding can lead to chaos and panic, resulting in stampedes that endanger the lives of spectators. By strictly adhering to stadium capacity regulations, we can mitigate the risk of stampedes and ensure the safety of everyone at the stadiums. Besides complying with stadium limits, event organisers need to put together comprehensive crowd management strategies during events of this magnitude (such as Chula Chula vs. African Stars FC). There must be a regulation and limit on the number of ticket sales and a limit on gate entrances in line with the stadium’s capacity.
Abolish selling alcohol in cans
and bottles
During the Dr. Hage Geingob Cup, I witnessed a crowd of fans violently
throwing cans of beer at each other, causing trauma, fear, and chaos in the entire crowd and perhaps causing numerous head and face injuries. Violent actions of this nature can be catastrophic; individuals could lose their eyes, or a child might die after being hit with such an object (a beer can or
bottle).
It is high time we implemented the rule of selling alcohol in plastic cups. All vendors selling beverages and alcoholic drinks at stadiums must sell them to customers in plastic cups. No one will want to throw away a cup because they will have to buy it and use it to refill again. Plastic cups are less likely to break compared to glass bottles or aluminium cans. This will reduce the risk of injuries from broken glasses or sharp edges on cans.
The shift towards selling alcohol in plastic cups at stadiums will be a progressive step in ensuring safety and enhancing the overall sports fan experience at our stadiums. Let’s make plastic cups the preferred choice for selling alcohol at Namibian stadiums. Together, we can create a safer and more enjoyable environment for sports enthusiasts in Namibia.
*Stefanus E.T. Ngolo is a Sports Management Scholar at the University of East London and a sports enthusiast. He writes this opinion in his personal capacity.