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Traffic jam spoils the fun

FANATIC: A Blue Bulls supporter on his way to Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Saturday for the semifinal against Crusaders. Pic. Veli Nhlapo. 23/05/2010. © Sowetan.
FANATIC: A Blue Bulls supporter on his way to Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Saturday for the semifinal against Crusaders. Pic. Veli Nhlapo. 23/05/2010. © Sowetan.

THOUSANDS of Bulls rugby fans arrived late at Orlando Stadium, Soweto, for the Super 14 semifinal victory over Crusaders after a nightmare journey that had them waiting in traffic jams for up to two hours.

THOUSANDS of Bulls rugby fans arrived late at Orlando Stadium, Soweto, for the Super 14 semifinal victory over Crusaders after a nightmare journey that had them waiting in traffic jams for up to two hours.

When the game kicked off the magnificent stadium was barely three quarters full and at half-time fans were still streaming in.

I left Campus Square, Auckland Park with friends at 2pm, fully expecting to enjoy the famed Soweto hospitality and atmosphere and still be at the stadium with plenty of time to spare.

What we did not expect was a two-hour crawl along the N1 highway from Maraisburg to the Nasrec off-ramp, along with thousands of other vehicles containing both rugby fans and soccer fans going to Soccer City for the Nedbank Cup final.

Fortunately spirits were high as I strolled up and down the highway chatting to fans who all had the same comment: "How are they going to improve the park-and-ride system in time for the World Cup?"

We were still 3km short of the Nasrec park-and-ride facility and suddenly it was decision time.

Park-and-ride became dump and ride as we left our car at the top of the off-ramp, ran across Rand Show Road and "hijacked" one of the buses taking fans to the game when it stopped at the robots.

An hour to kick off and safely on a bus. No problem! But as we entered Soweto we were back in a jam as dozens of buses snaked wearily down the road towards the stadium.

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