Manchester United is a household name and many would give a lot to make their dream of watching the team live come true. Such a dream (though it never really crossed his mind) came true for a Local Police officer, Jeremiah Dirakano who last past Saturday found himself right at one of famous shrines of the English game.
Dirakano, a Manchester United Barclaycard holder, had to pinch himself to be sure that indeed he won a trip to Manchester to watch a live game between Manchester United and Leeds United at Old Trafford last Saturday.
“He didn’t believe it when we told him that he had won the trip. He only did so after he saw the letter,” said Barclaycard (Botswana) manager, Mmatsosti Molefe.
Dirakano flew to England with his niece, Tshepiso Badenhorst last Thursday full of smiles but his happiness was nearly cut short when he was told to produce his police identity at Johannesburg International Airport in South Africa.
However, he said they eventually let him through after he explained that he is new in the force and still undergoing training.
For Dirakano and his niece who were flying for the first time, the nine-hour non-stop flight to London’s Heathrow International Airport was no joke.
“We couldn’t sleep,” he said but revels in the experience of going to a Manchester United game.
Not only was he a guest of Manchester United, he was also taken for a photo shoot for the Daily Mirror a day before the game. But as it were, they never found the paper even though some people told them they had seen their pictures in there.
“We went to buy it but there was nothing,” he said but then as he looked down shyly he added: “Maybe we didn’t buy the correct one.”
He reveals that the atmosphere at the game was electric with the stadium packed to full capacity.
“There were 67, 744 people and we were sitting alongside Manchester United fans,” he said confessing that it was his first time to see such a big number of people at one place.
“When they clapped, we also clapped but we couldn’t sing along because their songs are not understandable,” chipped in his niece, Burdenhorst, a first year humanities student at the University of Botswana.
“There is no booing of players and if one loses the ball they cheer him on. When Quinton Fortune (United) lost the ball he got courage,” he added.
He however said there were some United fans who continuously grumbled about their players not holding the ball properly.
“After the game Leeds fans waited for United fans to go out first so that there is no fighting,” he said.
One other thing that impressed him was the massive presence of the police.
“They make you feel safe and even in the streets there is security,” he said adding that when they were outside the stadium after the game, the Police were present to create the way for fans to pass.
“If you stand by them and make noise they pull you out,” he said adding that fans are searched before entering the stadium. He said that there is no video camera or beer allowed in the stadium.
Each block of stands has its own security personnel, he said.
He was also impressed by the playing ground, which he said is watered by underground sprinklers.
The sprinklers also produce hot air when it is chilly to prevent ice from forming on the stadium.
After a four-hour drive from Heathrow to Manchester, they had a few minutes to refresh before going on a tour of Old Trafford
“People usually come to tour the stadium,” he said.
It was there that they met a lady called Juana who was to be their host until their departure on Monday. They were taken to the Manchester United museum to view the club’s history seeing things such as the team’s kits, trophies and other such mementos.
“I bought myself this chain and this T-shirt at a discount,” he said and then added: “Everything that I am wearing now I bought there,” he said sporting a red Man U jersey. “There are many shops and they also have their own radio and television station,” he said. He revealed that when they were left alone to move around the stadium, they got lost at one point and found themselves going up and down the lifts.
“I am not a football person but I now know that football is nice and I am going to watch Manchester United whenever it is playing,” said Burdenhorst.
