The holiday road trip
DESTINATION GETAWAY: KE YONA SOCCER CUP FINAL AND HYPNOTIK MUSIC FESTIVAL Time out for the fans who share a common interest
Whether it’s enjoying a 90-minute jaw-dropping league cup final in Durban or bumping your head to the lyrics and melody from your favourite trap king in Swaziland, a weekend road trip is better enjoyed with friends.
For a soccer enthusiast, any cup final is one not to be missed, especially when it happens to be the Nedbank Ke Yona Cup final where the last teams standing are Soweto-based Orlando Pirates and SuperSport United.
This final took place at Moses Mabida stadium in Durban.
If you didn’t know where exactly Orlando was, you would’ve sworn it was entrenched in one of the residential areas of KwaZulu-Natal as supporters of the team filled it to capacity, leaving the opposition feeling threatened.
Taking place over payday weekend, fans and supporters from across the country embarked on a holiday road trip, with Durban as the final destination.
I, for one, was among those who flew in and to my surprise the flight even had a never-ending standby list – everyone wanted to bear witness to the ref’s final whistle and who would be taking home the trophy.
Upon arrival at King Shaka International, ignoring the buzzing atmosphere was almost as impossible as a cold winter day in one of the most tropical provinces in the country.
From afar you could spot who the vuvuzela blowers were from the excitement raging through the arrival terminals.
Having checked in to the Tsogo Sun-Elangeni hotel, with a room which overlooked the crisp blue ocean waters of Durban’s North Beach, it seemed fitting to take a beach stroll.
Among the guests in the hotel were a few SA TV and radio personalities, who also had made their way to support their favourite team, as well as take care of the lucky 120 Facebook members who won an all-expenses paid VIP treatment from Nedbank. For those who were lucky to have made it, a surprise meeting and great lunch with Idols SA judge Somizi Mhlongo was organised prior to the match.
Soon after the lunch it was time to make our way to the stadium where loud rows and chants echoed through the street leading into the fan-park and main gates. The aerial shot of Moses Mabida was covered in green, but admitting to have been at the wrong soccer match would have been more risky than the thought that SuperSport United could win the tournament.
Which they later did, leaving many fans dressed in black and white with broken hearts and sobbing with disappointment. But on to the music... Hosted in the royal kingdom of Swaziland, in a town called Ezuluweni (Heaven), just 60km from the airport, the Hypnotik music festival is a highlight for urban pop-cultured crazy folk.
A annual two-day festival seeking to incorporate all elements of the hip-hop music scene from fashion, music, language and culture, the Hypnotik experience is best described as explosive.
With most of the fans attending the festival ranging between ages of 18 and 25, the event takes place during school and varsity term break, allowing total euphoria throughout the experience.
In partnership with Sun International’s local four star hotel, Lugogo, the festival offered packages which included a hotel stay
over the weekend and unlimited possibilities of rubbing shoulders with the acts booked to perform.
With the line-up including Nasty C, Cassper Nyovest, Fifi Cooper and ShoMajozi, a mere five-hour drive would have been the least of the worries.
For first time visitors, Swaziland is a paradise of luscious green scenery, warm people and immense belief in culture and tradition.
Being a monarchy, King Mswati III is given much respect and admiration, which was refreshing to witness in a youth which entrenched themselves in their culture as much as adopted the pop-culture life found in hip-hop.
As the night drew near, the locals migrated themselves to a popular up market shisa nyama (braai house) where food, music and entertainment is the main source of business.
Though much of a short-lived voyage, the Kingdom of Swaziland is one captivated by peace, humility and nature.