While Gaborone United is far from its 'sell-by date', the club turned to the buy one, get one free sales promotion in a bid to lure fans to the National Stadium for their CAF Confederations Cup tie against Madagascar side, ELGECO PLUS on Saturday.
Additionally, ticket prices were selling for a nominal P20 for the rest of the ground while the covered stands sold for P50. GU management was probably rubbing its hands in glee and giving each other a pat on the back for what should have passed for a masterstroke.
It was a particularly encouraging move coming hard on the heels of a well attended friendly match between Township Rollers and South Africa’s Kaizer Chiefs last month. Botswana versus South Africa legends also attracted a huge crowd at the same venue in June. Appetite for football therefore appeared to be at an all-time high and GU looked to cash in.
But with less than 10minutes before kick-off, the majority of the stadium seats resembled the sparse Kalahari Desert vegetation. The famous Panda Stadium was expected to be at its bellowing best, providing the Reds with the red-hot atmosphere needed to spur the team to victory. But the animated, colourful characters on the stands were sadly missing as unheralded ELGECO PLUS took advantage of the lukewarm atmosphere to grab an important away lead going into the second half.
Football without fans is your regular tea without sugar and it was evident during the long painful COVID-19 days. Admittedly fans are attracted to the stadium by the quality of football and ELGECO PLUS pales into significance compared to the pulling power of the likes of Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates. One would argue, it would have been a different ball game had Chiefs or Pirates rolled into town. But nonetheless, the P20 and the buy one, get one free strategy should have been the magnet drawing the fans to the 22,500 seater.
There has been little action since it is off season and the hungry fans were expected to satiate their hunger. On the pitch, despite having the experienced head of former Zebras coach, Peter James Butler on the bench, the Reds fell short to their technically gifted opponents from the Island nation. The September or even October start of the local league does not do local teams participating in the CAF competitions any good.
GU captain, Mpho Kgaswane highlighted the challenge in the pre-match interview as players are deprived of quality preparation through the absence of competitive action. However, for the tie against the Madagascar side, that excuse flies straight out of the window as the Malagasy Pro League, just like the Botswana Premier League, is yet to kick-off. Now GU have all to do away in Madagascar to avoid a short-lived flirtation with continental football.
