Security companies fail Zebras test

Koketso Kgoboge | Thursday October 22, 2015 18:00

Crows control test: Thousands of fans have watched the Zebras' game in Francistown, which has been a security nightmare for the organisers. PIC: KEOAGILE BONANG

The Local Organising Committee (LOC) assistant chairperson, Eatametse Olopeng said in an evaluation of the Eritrea game that they have realised the security companies compromised security at the games by employing people that engage in bad practices.

“We suspect the companies we had engaged don’t have the capacity. It seems they employ people on temporary basis on the day of the game and it negatively affects our efforts.

“Some guards from these companies were caught circulating tickets at the entrances. Instead of tearing the tickets they get from people coming into the stadium, they keep them and sell to others outside the stadium,” Olopeng said. He also criticised people who wait until match day to buy tickets saying they cause unnecessary commotion.

“We are disappointed at those people who wait until the very last minute to get their tickets. We make ample time for tickets sales, but individuals wait until the last hour and cause a problem at the selling points.

“We get the same problem at the stadium. We have our gates open at 3pm, but minutes before kick-off people start coming in large numbers and in a hurry to go into the stadium; this makes our job difficult,” he said.

However, he applauded the spectators for taking heed of their plea of not invading the pitch in the last game against Eritrea and for cooperating with security personnel.

“People had assured us before and during the game that they will not invade the pitch and they kept their promise. It shows they have received the message and we are pleased with their understanding. “On the report we received from the police, there were no incidents of crime reported from the stadium and no accidents were recorded. We thank all the stakeholders for their contribution in making these games a success. We encourage this good behaviour and because we had applied ourselves well in the past fixture we are expecting to host another game in the near future,” Olopeng said.