Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Baroka’s band could make all the difference in Polokwane derby
JOHANNESBURG: HE beats the drum softly, as though he’s afraid it will break.
Yet he himself looks like he would break, this tiny youngster with a huge drum.
But once the trumpet and the trombone joins in, he smashes the drum so hard you really fear he’d break it.
And then suddenly, the cacophony of noise from the instruments is an audible song that gets the rest of the crowd adding the lyrics.
It is a song so common at South African stadiums, but the addition of the brass band makes the popular “Mbobo Buleka” – loosely translated let there be an opening for a goal – so melodic it might as well lead to a goal being scored.
It didn’t on Tuesday night at the Peter Mokaba Stadium, although Baroka FC did get the openings but just did not take them in their 1-1 draw against Kaizer Chiefs.
Backed by their partisan crowd that sang them encouragement throughout, Baroka will once again enjoy the advantage of their 12th man in this afternoon’s Polokwane Derby against Polokwane City.
One of a few clubs that have the backing of an official brass band, Baroka’s followers are excited at being involved in the first Absa Premiership Woza Nazo game of the season and are hellbent on “bringing our voice” to the Peter Mokaba Stadium.
Coordinator of the Tembisa Branch Supporters Mogale Stephen Dichabe, says they are going to cheer their club to victory in song.
“The Polokwane fans know that they will never outnumber us even if it is their home match. And with our brass band, they also know that we will out-sing them,” he says.
“You know, only the Soweto derby is bigger than ours.”