Stadium stampede kills 2 in S. Africa

JOHANNESBURG, July 29, (AFP): Two people were killed in a crush during a football match Saturday at the South African stadium that hosted the 2010 World Cup final, local media and an official said.

The incident occurred at a pre-season derby between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, the country’s most popular teams, both from Soweto.

Public and private broadcasters cited officials saying the crush took place outside a gate at the FNB stadium which hosted the final of the football extravaganza seven years ago.

Emergency services were not immediately reachable for comment, but Michael Sun, a Johannesburg municipal councillor responsible for public safety confirmed the deaths in a tweet.

“Situation report from FNB Soweto Derby?Stampede reported with multiple injuries, 2 confirmed fatal,” wrote Sun on Twitter.

The match carried on despite the tragedy at the stadium which has an official capacity of 94,000 and was won 1-0 by Chiefs.

The two worst football tragedies in South Africa involved matches between the same clubs — in 2001 when 43 people were killed, and in 1991, when the death toll was 42. Milutin “Micho” Sredojevic resigned as Uganda coach on Saturday, six months after leading the team to the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in 38 years.

The 47-year-old Serbian confirmed he was terminating his contract with the Cranes in a row over unpaid salary allowances totalling 216 million shillings ($64,000).

“I have been patient and working under very difficult conditions. Today I have resigned because I and FUFA (Federation of Uganda Football Association) have stretched limits,” Sredojevic told AFP on Saturday.

FUFA president Moses Magogo confirmed the departure of the Serbian coach after four years in charge of the national team.