A South African football fan who saved the life of a rival supporter during a stadium altercation has spoken about the emotional moment that led to his heroic act.
A video that has gone viral on social media captures the dramatic scene where a Mamelodi Sundowns fan pulls an Esperance supporter to safety at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria. The incident followed violent clashes that erupted after a CAF Champions League quarter-final match.
Sundowns had secured a 1-0 victory in the first leg on Tuesday, but after the game, tensions between the two sets of fans escalated into a fistfight. The chaos resulted in damaged property and several injuries.
During the melee, a Sundowns fan was seen preventing an Esperance supporter from falling from the stands in what has been hailed as a heroic act across Africa.
The man behind the courageous rescue, Siboniso Masango, later recounted the incident, revealing how the Esperance fan initially feared for his life.
“As he was hanging by the railing, it was raining earlier, so the surface was wet, and he was slowly losing his grip,” Masango explained. “I ran over, and the first thing I did was grab his forearm to help him balance, adjust his grip, and hold on properly.”
Masango described the fear in the man’s eyes as he pleaded for his life, mistakenly thinking he was about to be pushed over.
“He said to me, ‘Please, please, my brother, don’t do it. I have three kids.’ That’s what went through his mind he thought I was about to finish him off,” Masango recalled.
“I reassured him, telling him, ‘No, no, don’t worry, I won’t let you go.’ I then instructed him, ‘I’m going to try lifting your bag, and as I do, try to lift your knees so you can get your legs over the barrier.’
“After a few attempts, we finally got it right, and I pulled him up. We both went to the back, and at that moment, we broke down in tears. Looking at this man, realizing he was thinking he was about to die, was overwhelming.”
Despite his selfless act, Masango revealed that he was still being attacked while trying to save the rival fan.
“The crazy thing is, even as I was helping this person, I was still being attacked. Bottles were being thrown at me,” he said.
After bringing the Esperance supporter to safety, the two shared a heartfelt moment.
“I offered him some water, and he just kept thanking me. He was in shock but deeply grateful,” Masango said.
He emphasized that football should never lead to violence.
“No football match is worth dying or fighting over. What happened was mind-boggling. We should enjoy the game, make jokes, laugh, but violence has no place in football.”
It remains unclear what triggered the violence, but fans were seen breaking barricades and using them as weapons. The clashes extended to the stadium exits, where some supporters threw stones and food at their rivals.
Police were forced to intervene with tear gas canisters to control the situation. A group of Esperance fans had to seek refuge on the pitch under police protection, waiting for tensions to subside before they could safely leave.
The incident has sparked discussions on fan safety and the need for stronger security measures at major football events.
