Football fans who will be attending the Soweto derby between arch-rivals Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs have been urged to arrive early at the venue to avoid unnecessary problems.

Thousands of fans who will be attending South Africa’s biggest soccer match are encouraged to use park and ride facilities available for the encounter.

Traffic congestion has always been a major issue for soccer fans attending this match. Organizers have for the first time arranged park and ride to and from the venue to ease traffic congestion around the Nasrec precinct and make the experience a pleasant one for fans.

Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs will meet for the first time in a Betway Premiership match this season in the eagerly anticipated fixture. This has proved to be the most-watched match on the local football calendar.

Tickets were sold out weeks before the encounter. To ensure an incident-free day, organisers have arranged park-and-ride transport for the very first time. There are five park-and-ride spots around Johannesburg before and after at Montecasino, Sandton City, Clearwater Mall, Mall of Africa, and Gold Reef City.

Director of Stadium Management South Africa Bertie Grobbelaar says the venue recently staged a successful music concert without major traffic problems.

“It’s exactly the same service providers, exactly the same JMPD, exactly the same routes and exactly the same plan. There were two differences, early arrival and the use of park and rides, we’ve introduced park and rides for the first time,”

Spokesperson of the Johannesburg Metro Police Department Xolani Fihla says they will be deploying their members around the stadium precinct and in all major routes going to FNB Stadium and has warned about various road closures.

“Soweto highway will definitely be closed off between the N1 and the bridge from 11 am, another closure on Booysens reserve road and these routes will be accessible via the Rea Vaya bus service and park and rides,”

Meanwhile, supporters of both clubs are already looking forward to the match. Pirates are currently second on the log standings, and on the other hand, Chiefs find themselves in 5th spot, after a disappointing start to the season.

The last time the two teams played a total of five goals were scored at the same venue, with Pirates coming from behind to win the match 3-2.

“I think Pirates are on song they are going to continue winning and they also play good football,” says one supporter.

Another one adds. “I am so happy now but we are still rebuilding. We can say we are going to win the game but we are improving.”

This supporter says he expects a lot of goals. “I’m looking forward to a big one, I just hope they don’t sit back, they’ll make sure they score goals, I’m expecting a lot of goals.”

Gates open at half past 11, with the match scheduled to kick off at half past three.