Ticketing mess!

Staff Writer | Friday January 19, 2018 14:52

 

The match started 35minutes late owing to a high number of fans still by the gates, some without tickets.

Fans complained that there were technical issues with the e-ticketing at Choppies, where the tickets were being sold.

There were no tickets at the gates, resulting in hundreds of fans stranded outside. However, some forced their way in, depriving the home side, Santos of much needed revenue.

“We have long requested for the tickets from the (Botswana) Premier League, but they insisted on e-ticketing. I intend to write them a letter over the issue.

We apologise to the spectators about what happened on Wednesday,” Mike Molefhe, Santos chairperson said.

No comment could be obtained from the Botswana Premier League (BPL) chief executive officer, Thabo ‘Styles’ Ntshinogang, who has been quoted as saying fans should learn to buy tickets on time. There were similar reports in Jwaneng before the game against Jwaneng Galaxy and Mochudi Centre Chiefs, where there was a last minute rush for tickets at the retail chain store, as calls for a change in the ticketing system grow louder.

On the pitch, Rollers provided a swift response after their capitulation at the hands of Miscellaneous on Sunday.

Rollers had seen their lead cut to eight points at the top on Sunday, before second-placed Jwaneng Galaxy further slashed the advantage to only five points. Rollers needed a response and crafted a perfect answer with two goals in second half, as relegation threatened Santos failed to find the net.

Innocent Ranku’s Santos had held its own in the first half but were unlocked when Mosha Gaoloalwe powered in a header in the 53rd minute before Mthokozisi Msomi made sure the points were safe with a close range finish in the 66th minute.

Santos finished with 10men after Thato Seagateng was shown an undeserved second yellow late in the second half. Seagateng went for a loose ball and in a 50-50 situation, Simisane Mathumo went down untouched and the referee gave the Santos player the second yellow.

Ranku said they had held their own until the second half.

He said the intention was to close spaces and stop Rollers from playing but conceded from a set piece.