The Toyota Cheetahs will play their first game of the season on Friday when they take on the Leopards in Bloemfontein during round two of the SA Cup – and there is some great news for the fans!
The seven-time Currie Cup champions are on the back foot after losing 45-29 to the Boland Cavaliers in Wellington last week, in a game where their discipline, in particular, let them down. That said, there were positive signs moving forward.
In a major development for the match, the unpopular fences around the field at Toyota Stadium are coming down. Stadium staff have been hard at work this week, removing the barricades to create a much more enjoyable experience for fans.
This will not only provide valuable supporters with better visibility but also allow them to engage with their heroes. In 2024, the fencing was put up overnight after repeated warnings due to spectators running onto the field after matches. These measures were implemented primarily for safety reasons – especially to protect the players and safeguard valuable equipment on the pitch side, from television crews’ to that of photographers.
This was a move that left a bitter taste, but was ultimately necessitated.
Just two weeks ago, there was a pitch invasion at the stadium following Marumo Gallants’ sensational 2-0 win against Orlando Pirates in a Premier Soccer League match. In football, fencing around the field is standard practice across South Africa to prevent incidents like the infamous Ellis Park disaster in 2001, when 43 supporters tragically lost their lives in a stampede. However, other factors also contributed to that dark day in the country’s sporting history.
Free State Rugby has appealed to spectators to follow instructions, as they will be allowed onto the field after the match. Fans are urged not to jump over the walls but instead use the blue gates and follow the announcer’s directions.
Friday’s battle of the big cats between the Cheetahs and Leopards at Toyota Stadium kicks off at 18:00. – MORGAN PIEK
