Katlego Sekhu
This Thursday, April 11, marked exactly 23 years since the Ellis Park Stadium stampede that claimed 43 lives and left scores of fans injured during a league match between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates.
Kaizer Chiefs legend Thabo ‘Tsiki Tsiki’ Mooki reflects on the tragic day.
“The day began like every match day. We were filled with excitement, and so were the fans. It was an important match. When the game started, we did not know what was going on. When the game stopped, we were told that there was a stampede. Only later did we get to know what had actually unfolded.”
Following the tragic incident, Mooki shares that they had to get professional help to continue playing the game.
“We had a captains committee of senior players, and we were able to get the help we needed to ensure that the players were able to continue—emotionally and psychologically—and play in the memory of the fans. As a player at that stage in my career, I had never had the experience of people passing at a game, and it was traumatic for us,” he expressed.
“I say, may the souls of all those who passed that evening rest in peace. Among them were breadwinners for their families, important community leaders, children, fathers, and mothers. For those families who lost these members, to this day I sympathise with them and feel for what they went through.”
To mark every anniversary, each year on the 11th of April, Mook takes the time out to reflect on what happened on that fateful evening.
“Like I said, these people who passed all meant something to their families, and to us. It is fitting that we think about them and what happened to them, and ensure that fans enjoy the spectacle that is football safely,” said the legend.
Thabo Mooki
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