Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
I am not exactly certain how the name Soweto came to be associated with Barbourfields’ Western stand nor who coined it. I would want to believe though that it had something to do with defiance – good or bad. I would also want to believe the 1976 Soweto uprisings against apartheid in South Africa by mostly teenage boys and girls inspired whoever coined thename Soweto for the Emagumeni stand. Against all odds and in defiance of certain death and or torture, the gallant young South Africans took to the streets to fight the Boers. They had told themselves, no pain, no gain to borrow from the old Chinese adage.

The Soweto stand at Barbourfields Stadium is also synonymous with defiance, not necessarily against authorities (although that cannot be ruled out) but against their favourite team, Highlanders losing. Even if the team is down 2-0 deep into injury time, the die-hard Soweto based supporters will still be singing, chanting the team’s slogan with animated passion. Some even remain standing or seated well after the referee has blown his whistle, not believing that indeed Amahlolanyama have fallen.

So in an effort to understand and be part of these “to die for Bosso fans” I decided to go and be part of them. I must confess though that I got encouragement from my best pal, a senior police officer who also shares the same name as mine. For professional reasons, I will not mention his surname but he is a true and “don’t talk nonsense about Bosso” fan.

The first time was when Highlanders played against Caps United, a match that Bosso mauled the Green Machine 4-0 while the second was the 3-1 thumping of army outfit Black Rhinos.

For the Caps United match, I used my privilege card, got in through the grandstand entrance before proceeding to the real home of Highlanders – the Soweto Stand.
“Uref engenza u***** namhla uzavele abone,” was how I got welcomed! It was a young man, clearly intoxicated but dressed in full Bosso regalia and to my amazement, he was carrying three full bottles of spirit beer (thathankawu) despite the fact that we all get searched by the police.

We then made our way to where my friend sits. It’s now more like a home to him because when we got there, his “sitting mates” greeted him warmly and asked how his Saturday was.

“Uyayifuna ivereza (slang for hot stuff),” asked one of them. I don’t know whether my friend declined the offer because I was there or he simply was not interested but on that day he turned it down. His friends then started chiding him saying he would “miss” Highlanders playing despite the fact that he was at the stadium.

So, I thought to myself, so those who are intoxicated are the ones who really enjoy football! That can only happen at Soweto.
Song and dance became the order of the day as the match went on. I joined in the singing and dancing lest I be asked my allegiance and be called a sellout before becoming a punching bag.

We would occasionally sit down and concentrate on the match but there was one guy, just two steps down from where we were sitting, who never sat down. He also never watched the match as he had his back to the field, singing all the time and drinking his favourite ‘stuff’. I also noticed that no one would complain about him blocking their view, only at Soweto can such things happen.

While at the VIP stand it’s all about class and all sorts, Soweto is all about cheering Highlanders from the moment you enter the stadium, during halftime and until the final whistle. There was also a strong smell of marijuana, people smoking freely as if it had been legalised.

Like gangsters in movies, there is also respect and protection for fellow Sowetans but overzealous fans who throw missiles are handed instant justice.
“Skhue Soweto is the place to be, we are a society and very soon we could be starting our own burial society,” said a guy whom I had been introduced to by my host.

When the referee blew for fulltime, I must confess that I cursed him for I was enjoying the afternoon, I’m not sure whether my courage was also influenced by the “smoke” or not.
I then went back to the office.

My next visit to Soweto was when Bosso took on Black Rhinos. This time I parted with my $3 and what I noticed truly mesmerized me.
I saw guys carrying three loaves of bread and going into the stadium. I later on learnt that the bread is used to smuggle in “hot stuff” and I asked how that is possible and the answer I got blew me away.

These “innovative” guys rip off the base of the bread, buy their “hot stuff” and empty the contents into the bread until its soaking wet. That way they avoid the hassle of being searched by security at the turnstiles as they will simply be carrying a harmless loaf of bread.

Once inside, they will start “eating” their loaf but in actual fact, they will be drinking, literally, their hot stuff.
Yes, Soweto might be a hard hat area, yes Soweto might be a haven for criminals (not proven though), yes Soweto might be viewed with disdain by the so-called elite but one thing is all too certain, Soweto is the true heart and soul of Amahlolanyama.

I truly salute the Soweto stand fans!
What are your views about Soweto?

Let’s chat, [email protected]

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