Stadium lights-out leaves fans in dark

Technical glitch halts clash with SuperSport 1-0 ahead

[caption id="attachment_95709" align="alignright" width="224"] BALL CONTROL: Orlando Pirates’ Siyabonga Sang challenges Supersport United’s Jeremy Brockie during their Absa Premiership match at Peter Mokaba Stadium last night. PICTURE: BACKPAGEPIX[/caption]

IN a sorry sight for South African football, the lights went out just after the hour mark at Peter Mokaba Stadium last night, with SuperSport United 1-0 up in their Absa Premiership match against Orlando Pirates.

SuperSport’s new Kiwi signing, Michael Boxall, had put his side ahead in the 23rd minute.

With Matsatsantsa in the ascendancy, most of the stadium lights went out in the 62nd minute, forcing referee Daniel Bennett to abandon play.

By 11 last night, stadium technicians were still working on the glitch, and a decision was made by match commissioner Paolo Marques that the match would be completed today.

He said the match would be completed from the 62nd minute, at 1-0 to SuperSport, with the same players from noon today.

A stadium official said systems showed the lights were on, so the flaw must have been due to a technical glitch.

A technician said the effort to switch to the stadium’s generator had been successful.

“The generator is working and there is power, so there must be a problem with the system,” he said.

Fans were still patiently waiting for a resolution at 10pm.

The glitch ruined what had been a good game between two title hopefuls.

Pirates coach Eric Tinkler replaced Ndoro with Kermit Erasmus, and Bucs threatened but over-elaborated in and around the SuperSport area. Then darkness descended. Match officials first said at 10pm they were suspending the game for three hours before later deciding to complete the match today. -Marc Strydom