Kaizer Chiefs v Mamelodi Sundowns set for near-capacity FNB Stadium crowd

Kaizer Chiefs’ Betway Premiership meeting with Mamelodi Sundowns is on course to draw a near-capacity crowd at FNB Stadium on Saturday, with more than 32,000 tickets already sold.

Stadium Management South Africa (SMSA) provided the latest sales update at a press conference held at the Kaizer Chiefs Village in Naturena on Thursday afternoon. Officials expect the number to rise further on Friday and during the final hours before kick-off.

The figure is below the estimate previously suggested by Kaizer Chiefs media officer Vina Maphosa, but SMSA representative Bertie Grobbelaar said sales were progressing strongly for a Thursday before the match.

“I hear that Vina said between 35 000 and 40 000 tickets sold. He’s a bit over-optimistic at today’s date. We’re just over 32 000 sold, but that is a good number on a Thursday before the event.

Additionally, at FNB Stadium, we see the actual sales happening on the Friday afternoon and on match day itself.

So, I’m confident that we will have a close-to-capacity crowd and I hope that the weather holds as well,” Grobbelaar told the media.

FNB Stadium’s final attendance is expected to be influenced by late ticket purchases, with Grobbelaar highlighting the pattern of supporters buying tickets on the Friday afternoon and on match day itself.

He also warned that conditions outside the stadium could affect the number of fans attending. Rain and poor weather had already been a concern around a recent fixture involving Kaizer Chiefs and Sekhukhune United.

“It was terrible last night for anyone to be outside. So, yeah, we’re just around 32 000,” he observed.

The weather forecast will therefore be closely watched as the two South African football heavyweights prepare to meet. A significant rise in sales would take the attendance closer to FNB Stadium’s full capacity, although the final figure will depend on both demand and conditions on Saturday.

The match is being billed as one of the biggest fixtures on the South African football calendar, with Kaizer Chiefs hosting Mamelodi Sundowns in a contest expected to attract widespread attention.

SMSA’s update means the stadium is already set to be well populated before the weekend, while the remaining sales period offers the possibility of an even larger turnout. By Friday, and again on match day, the number of tickets sold is likely to provide a clearer indication of whether the venue will be filled.

For now, more than 32,000 supporters have secured seats, and Grobbelaar remains confident that FNB Stadium will welcome a crowd close to capacity, provided the weather remains favourable.