The email arrived promptly on the morning of the anniversary, titled “Ellis Park disaster: 15 years on, never forgotten”.
Rehashing what happened that disastrous night at the Doornfontein arena during the Soweto derby, the email listed the names of the 43 who lost their lives and spoke of how the PSL family and football at large continues to mourn and will never forget.
And just like that - arguably the most tragic event in the local game was commemorated.
Really? Couldn’t they have done better?
Many soccer fans throughout the country felt a lot more should be done and they bombarded radio talk shows lamenting what they believe is a “don’t care” attitude from the football bosses.
Yet while they were bitter that it appeared that not enough was done, they didn’t just point the finger of blame on the soccer bosses but instead came up with what I felt were ingenious ideas on how to commemorate the Ellis Park tragedy.
And while the soccer bosses have said over the years since that dreadful Wednesday evening on April 11, 2001, that they believe football should move on without ever forgetting - one got a sense that soccer fans appear to care more about those who lost their loved ones than the administrators.
For one, a number of them seemed to understand just what the impact of those deaths had on the families who lost their loved one.
Some child lost his dad that night and he now cannot pursue his dreams and some families are now without bread winners.
And these were people who had gone to the stadium not only for entertainment but to support their beloved clubs who are making millions courtesy of the fans who go to the stadiums.
Sure, the clubs have sponsors, but the only reason the likes of Vodacom, Nike and Adidas associate with Chiefs and Pirates is because of the huge following the clubs have.
Now, as was the general consensus from the fans, surely these two clubs can find it in them to create a trust fund of sorts to help those families who lost their loved ones at the stadium?
And to show that they understand it could easily have been one of them who died that day, the fans even offered to make a contribution to the trust fund with one suggesting they be charged extra for the derby with a part of the gate fee going to the fund.
The one idea I really liked was the suggestion that the PSL consider playing the second round league match of the Soweto derby at around the April 11.
That way there is every guarantee that the football family will never forget and the league themselves will find that they do right by the fans as per the recommendations of Judge Bernard Ngoepe. That will be better than an email ... - The Star