After Teko Modise scored the winning penalty for South Africa to beat Zambia 4-3 at Free State Stadium on Wednesday night, the frenzied crowd charged onto the field and smothered the Cosafa Castle Cup winners.
After Teko Modise scored the winning penalty for South Africa to beat Zambia 4-3 at Free State Stadium on Wednesday night, the frenzied crowd charged onto the field and smothered the Cosafa Castle Cup winners.
The scenes were not fit for a country preparing to host the world's largest sporting event yet no Safa officials, nor Cosafa officials, could give any information on how this fracas was allowed to happen despite the paltry crowd of less than 5000 supporters, most of whom were dressed in Bloemfontein Celtic apparel.
Arnou Oberholzer, the owner of Security Patrol Expert said that his company was only designated to supervise the gates and the suites at the Free State stadium.
"We've done what we were asked to," Oberholzer said. "We were instructed to provide security at the gates and at some of the suites for last night's game.
"We were not involved at all with the security on the field. We usually have to oversee the crowd and make sure there are no problems within the crowd.
"But we were asked to intervene if there was trouble," said the former police officer whose company handles all Currie Cup and Springbok matches at the home of the Cheetahs.
Oberholzer, who has been in the security industry for more than 11 years, said his company received these instructions from a Joint Operational Centre (JOC) where the events coordinator, Safa and Cosafa officials were present.
"At the JOC meeting there were officials from Cosafa, the local police, Safa as well as members from a residential group who discuss what should be done prior to the match. As far as I'm concerned, we've done our duty," added Oberholzer.
The incident occurred when Modise took off his shirt after scoring the winning goal and threw it into the stands. The crowd behind the goalposts jumped over the low fence and invaded the pitch. Orlando Pirates midfielder Bennet Chenene tried to evade the hundreds of overzealous fans but was soon caught and hugged from all angles.
The rest of the Bafana Bafana players scurried to the tunnel where security officials created a protective barrier around them. Other security personnel kicked and hit the intruders.
A security officer who did not want to be named said another security firm was supposed to put a process in place to stop anything of this sort from happening. He also mentioned that the said security firm was told not to erect any barriers.
"They were told not to put up a fence on the southern side where the fans entered the ground. They were not expecting so many fans and they were not expecting this to happen," he said.
With the 2010 World Cup just over 900 days away, this does not augur well for the first African hosts. - Sapa
Pitch invasion hurts SA's image
After Teko Modise scored the winning penalty for South Africa to beat Zambia 4-3 at Free State Stadium on Wednesday night, the frenzied crowd charged onto the field and smothered the Cosafa Castle Cup winners.
After Teko Modise scored the winning penalty for South Africa to beat Zambia 4-3 at Free State Stadium on Wednesday night, the frenzied crowd charged onto the field and smothered the Cosafa Castle Cup winners.
The scenes were not fit for a country preparing to host the world's largest sporting event yet no Safa officials, nor Cosafa officials, could give any information on how this fracas was allowed to happen despite the paltry crowd of less than 5000 supporters, most of whom were dressed in Bloemfontein Celtic apparel.
Arnou Oberholzer, the owner of Security Patrol Expert said that his company was only designated to supervise the gates and the suites at the Free State stadium.
"We've done what we were asked to," Oberholzer said. "We were instructed to provide security at the gates and at some of the suites for last night's game.
"We were not involved at all with the security on the field. We usually have to oversee the crowd and make sure there are no problems within the crowd.
"But we were asked to intervene if there was trouble," said the former police officer whose company handles all Currie Cup and Springbok matches at the home of the Cheetahs.
Oberholzer, who has been in the security industry for more than 11 years, said his company received these instructions from a Joint Operational Centre (JOC) where the events coordinator, Safa and Cosafa officials were present.
"At the JOC meeting there were officials from Cosafa, the local police, Safa as well as members from a residential group who discuss what should be done prior to the match. As far as I'm concerned, we've done our duty," added Oberholzer.
The incident occurred when Modise took off his shirt after scoring the winning goal and threw it into the stands. The crowd behind the goalposts jumped over the low fence and invaded the pitch. Orlando Pirates midfielder Bennet Chenene tried to evade the hundreds of overzealous fans but was soon caught and hugged from all angles.
The rest of the Bafana Bafana players scurried to the tunnel where security officials created a protective barrier around them. Other security personnel kicked and hit the intruders.
A security officer who did not want to be named said another security firm was supposed to put a process in place to stop anything of this sort from happening. He also mentioned that the said security firm was told not to erect any barriers.
"They were told not to put up a fence on the southern side where the fans entered the ground. They were not expecting so many fans and they were not expecting this to happen," he said.
With the 2010 World Cup just over 900 days away, this does not augur well for the first African hosts. - Sapa
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