DHL Stormers on Twitter
The DHL Stormers and the Newport Dragons from Wales put on a show on Saturday.
They must have sensed that what they were dishing up was being properly appreciated by the rugby-starved public of Nelson Mandela Bay.
The Stormers ran out deservedly 34-26 winners but had to withstand a stirring fightback from the Dragons who had trailed 28-7 at halftime.
When all was said and done after 80 minutes of Vodacom United Rugby Championship action, the crowd of 14 378 headed home happy.
Most of them were clutching DHL Stormers flags handed out at the gates for free, and those wearing their jerseys would probably proudly spend the rest of the weekend in them.
It is just so sad, really, that the heady days of the Southern Kings is no-more and that the rugby fan has to be content with picking up the scraps.
Let’s face it, the Stadium is magnificent and it deserves more ‘game time’.
Happily, that will come early in the new year when Chippa United host two matches in the DSTV Premiership at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
‘Everyone loves a winning team’ as they say in the classics.
The Chili Boys are currently 6th on the table and instead of looking over their shoulder at those below them in the relegation battle, they are harbouring ambitions of a Top-8 finish this year.
The fans recognize it, and there will be a good crowd when Chippa United hosts Cape Town City on Saturday 14 January and Maritzburg United on Sunday 29 January.
There’s a limited international rugby schedule next year, being a World Cup year, but no doubt Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium will put its hand up to host the Springboks – goodness knows it would be a sell-out!
Acting Stadium Manager Zikhona Price told Algoa FM Sport that they are looking forward to hosting bigger events in 2023.
“We are also excited about the 3rd edition of the eGames which the NMB Stadium will host on 10 December,” she said.
Sixty-four gamers will compete live in the eGames hub on level 5 of the Stadium in an online PS4 FIFA23 soccer competition.
Prince added that the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium would host a cultural music festival at its Imatu Park venue on the 17th of December and close out the year with the 11th annual Ebubeleni Music Festival on the 30th of December.
