Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Local fans set for Chelsea-United battle
LIVING rooms and pubs around the city will be divided by red and blue as Manchester United and Chelsea clash in the English FA Cup final this evening.
Ricardo van Wyk, secretary of the Manchester United supporters’ club in Cape Town, said today’s fixture was expected to divide families and friends as the two British football giants do battle at Wembley in London.
Van Wyk said United will be victorious with a comfortable two-goal cushion.
“It is an exciting match. After the season we’ve had, we have to beat them (Chelsea),” he said.
“We will be watching from our clubhouse in Strandfontein, which takes up to 150 members and invited guests. The clubhouse is also childfriendly.”
Former United players, such as Quinton Fortune and Gary Bailey, have watched a match at the Strandfontein clubhouse.
On Wednesday, Van Wyk returned from a week- long tour of Manchester where he watched the Red Devils beat Watford 1-0 in their final game of the Premier League season.
Members of the supporters’ club travel to England at least once a season to watch their team live.
“You can’t explain the experience of Old Trafford (United’s home stadium). It was absolutely awesome, even though it was not my first time,” Van Wyk said.
A survey by United in 2012 said nearly 660 million fans support the club globally, making it the most supported team in the world.
Van Wyk said venues such as Rascals sports pub in Kenilworth and Ground bar in Lansdowne will be filled with red shirts in support of the Red Devils.
Radio personality and Chelsea supporter Nick Feinberg said: “This game is a massive one for Cape Town soccer supporters. Two-thirds of world football supports Man United and I think that’s why the (Nedbank) cup final between (Premier Soccer League clubs) Maritzburg United and Free State Stars is struggling to sell tickets.
“Everyone will be in bars or at their homes watching Chelsea versus Man United.”
He said supporters will watch today’s final at popular sports pubs in the CBD, Mitchells Plain and Claremont.