Loftus Stadium Incident/ Picture: X(formerly Twitter)
Mamelodi Sundowns fan Siboniso Masango has been hailed as a hero for saving the life of an ES Tunis fan after a violent brawl ensued at Loftus Stadium. Siboniso speaks out about the adrenaline-pumping incident where he emerged as man of the hour.
The match-up between South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns and Tunisia’s Espérance Sportive de Tunis, aka ES Tunis, has been a major talking point in Africa’s football world. This is despite a tightly contested and competitive performance from both sides; rather, the violent brawl that broke out between both clubs’ fan bases has overshadowed the actual game.
Amid the chaos and mayhem of the brawl, one Mamelodi Sundowns fan emerged as a hero after he saved an ES Tunis fan from falling from the stands, potentially saving him from severe or fatal injuries. The adrenaline-pumping moment was caught on camera by bystanders who could only watch as the fan clung onto the railings for his dear life before Siboniso successfully pulled him up.
Watch: One Mamelodi Sundowns fans rushes over to help one Esperance de Tunis fan hanging on for dear life. Look at how the other Esperance fans simply ignore their brother. #CAFCL pic.twitter.com/mSy76usAHc
— AFCON 2025 (@DiskiAfrika) April 2, 2025
Hailed as the hero of the day, Siboniso hopped on the club’s podcast, Mamelodi Sundowns TV, to share his thoughts and feelings in the moment with the rest of the country. According to his recollection, Siboniso revealed the initial terror in the fan’s voice, as he thought that Siboniso would harm, rather than save him; however, after reassuring him, they worked together to get the ES Tunis fan to safety.
It was then that both Siboniso broke down, filled with intense emotions and embraced each other while they processed what had just taken place. Siboniso recalls how the fan repeatedly thanked him for saving his life, and he reveals that he reassured him that he would not let him fall.
Siboniso then went on to urge football fans to continue with passionately enjoying the wonderful game of football, however, highlighted that violence has no place in the sport.
“No football match is worth dying over, no football match is worth fighting for. What happened yesterday was mind-boggling to me. So, let’s enjoy the game, let’s make jokes, but violence? No,” Siboniso says.
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