The Premier Soccer League [PSL] has announced plans to solve traffic congestion ahead of the 2025 MTN8 final at the Mbombela Stadium in Mpumalanga amid fears of the chaos experienced the last time a cup final took place in the city.
Orlando Pirates will take on Stellenbosch FC in a highly anticipated final that will kick off at 18:00 at the 2010 FIFA World Cup venue.
The 2025/26 MTN8 final comes a year after the Mbombela stadium held the 2024 Nedbank Cup final between Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates. That previous event was marred by serious traffic congestion, leaving fans, teams, and other stakeholders stranded for hours.
In response, the PSL, along with road traffic management, police, and stadium officials, held a media briefing to address these issues. They have revealed new measures to ensure a smoother experience. This include the provision of free Park and Ride facilities for the upcoming match.
FOOTBALL SUPPORTERS REAUSFRED OF A SMOOTH RIDE INTO THE MBOMBELA STADIUM ON SATURDAY
“To ensure a smooth and enjoyable match-day experience, five Park and Ride facilities will operate in and around the Mbombela CBD,” said the PSL on Wednesday.
“These services are free of charge and open exclusively to ticket holders. The Park and Ride facilities will open at 13:00 on match day and are free of charge.
“Access will be granted upon presentation of a valid match ticket, and ticket holders will be able to park their vehicles and board a shuttle bus directly to Mbombela Stadium. There will be return services provided after the match.”
PSL CONFIRM THE PARK AND RIDE LOCATIONS AHEAD OF THE MTN8 FINAL
The park and ride facilities that will be available for football fans are as follows:
- Showgrounds
- Hoërskool Bergvlam
- Lowveld High School
- Riverside Government Complex
- Fresh Produce Market
Meanwhile, the manager at the Mbombela Stadium, Roelf Kotze, has also provided insight into the pitch’s readiness.
“The most important thing in this event is the pitch,” said Kotze. “It’s about football, and once we get everybody into the stadium, the first thing that people do is to look at the pitch. And everybody has a comment on whether it’s good or bad.
“But I can assure you, the pitch is in great condition. It will showcase the stadium.”
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