Tensions flared in the stands at Loftus Versfeld Stadium following the heated CAF Champions League encounter between Mamelodi Sundowns and Espérance de Tunis — but amid the chaos, one act of humanity stole the spotlight.
South African supporter Siboniso Masango stepped in to save an Espérance fan who was in visible distress, moments after falling from the East Stand and clinging for his life on a railing in the North Stand.
Masango recounted the emotional scene in an interview with Mamelodi Sundowns’ official YouTube channel.
“When I arrived, he thought I was going to hurt him,” he recalled. “He begged me: ‘Please don’t do this, I have three children!'”
Masango’s intentions, however, were anything but violent.
In a moment of spontaneous courage, he reached out to help rather than harm.
“At the time, everything seemed normal,” he explained, “but when I saw the video shared by my friends the next day, I shed a tear when I realized what I had done.”
Footage of the rescue quickly spread across social media, drawing widespread praise and admiration for the Sundowns supporter’s bravery.
Yet Masango’s selflessness came at a personal cost.
“The craziest thing was that while trying to help this man, I was still attacked. Bottles were thrown at me,” he revealed.
Despite the hostility surrounding him, Masango managed to ensure the safety of the Tunisian fan.
What followed was a moment of deep gratitude.
“We offered him water, and in a moment of intense gratitude, he kept saying to me, ‘Thank you so much.’”
The incident served as a stark contrast to the volatile atmosphere in the stadium that evening, reminding many that acts of kindness can prevail even in the most charged settings.
While the football match may be remembered for its drama on the pitch, the true defining moment came off it — a reminder that compassion and empathy know no club allegiance.
As debates around fan behavior and stadium safety continue, this story of courage and decency offers a powerful message: in sport, humanity should always come first.
