Three Orlando Pirates supporters from KwaZulu-Natal spent roughly R2,700 on fuel alone and nine hours on the road on Friday, October 30, to reach Johannesburg for Saturday's Soweto derby at FNB Stadium, according to IOL.
Dumisani Mgabhi, Sakhile Mthethwa and Bafana Mthenjwa travelled from Richards Bay and Mtubatuba via Piet Retief, enduring heavy traffic on the final approach to the stadium. Their weekend budget ran well beyond the fuel bill: R2,400 per person for three nights at Ecomotel in Park Station and at least R1,500 for food, IOL reported.
Why the journey cost so much
The distances alone explain the expense. Mthethwa, who owns the car, lives in Richards Bay and had to collect Mgabhi and Mthenjwa in Mtubatuba, more than 50 kilometres away, before the long drive north. The trio also made stops along the route to take in the scenery of Mpumalanga, stretching the trip to a full nine hours on a scorching Friday afternoon.
Supporters heading to the same fixture faced added pressure on match day. The South African reported that road closures and traffic restrictions around FNB Stadium forced fans to plan their journeys carefully, while Soccerbullet noted that closures took effect from 10:00 on Saturday, with Soweto Highway reserved for Rea Vaya and Gautrain buses between Mentz Street and the N1.
Loyalty paid from their own pockets
What sets the three men apart is that none of it is subsidised. Mgabhi, known among supporters as '3935', told IOL the club has never given them a rand.
We have travelled all over to support the team. There's no money that we've been given by the club, but we do it for the love of the badge.
Their passion is funded by honest work. Mgabhi buys and sells cars, Mthenjwa is an electrician, and Mthethwa sells blocks and river sand in Mbonambi. That, Mgabhi said, is what allows them to travel the country, and beyond it, including to Botswana, to follow the team.
It is a picture of personal responsibility that deserves attention. No one arranged this for them. Three working men budgeted their own earnings, told their families, and drove hundreds of kilometres because they chose to stand by something they believe in.
A loyalty passed to the next generation
Mgabhi framed the travels as more than entertainment. He wants his children to know their fathers stood for something.
We are doing this for the love of Pirates, and want our kids to know that our fathers supported Pirates. We've been all over the country, and outside, including Botswana, to support the team.
Their loyalty is not new. Mgabhi traces it back to the days of Brandon Silent and Helman Mkhalele, two names from the club's past that older supporters still speak of with respect. The men met the squad before the MTN8 final at Moses Mabhida Stadium earlier in October, and took the 2-0 defeat that followed without complaint.
Whether we win, draw, or lose, we will always be behind the team. Even when Pirates lose, they always come and dance with us on the centre line.
Standards that hold in defeat
Mgabhi's verdict on the team's recent form is firm. In the last three seasons, he told IOL, no side has played more attractive football than Orlando Pirates.
In the last three seasons, I can confidently say that there's no team that has played more attractive and better football than Orlando Pirates. Even when we've lost, we are happy. They play local, beautiful football.
He added, with a touch of humour, that even a man troubled at home forgets his worries at the stadium watching the team.
What this means for supporters in Botswana
The detail that matters most to readers here is that Botswana features on the trio's travel record. The Buccaneers draw support from inside our borders, and the men from KwaZulu-Natal have crossed into Botswana to back the club. South African football culture reaches deep into our region, and supporters who travel this far, on their own coin, are part of the reason the Soweto derby remains the biggest fixture on the southern African calendar.
The three men will spend the weekend in Johannesburg before the long drive back to Richards Bay, Mtubatuba and Mbonambi. The badge, Mgabhi said, is worth every kilometre.
FAQ
How much did the three Pirates fans spend to reach the Soweto derby?
The one-way drive from KwaZulu-Natal cost roughly R2,700 in fuel, with R2,400 per person for accommodation over three nights and a food budget of at least R1,500, according to IOL.
How long did the trip to Johannesburg take?
The drive from Richards Bay and Mtubatuba via Piet Retief took about nine hours on Friday, October 30, plus more than an hour stuck in traffic near the stadium.
Does Orlando Pirates pay these supporters to travel?
No. Mgabhi told IOL the club has never given them money; the men fund every trip from their own work as a car dealer, an electrician and a building materials seller.