Nigerian FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo Backs Jonathan for 2011

Published on Tuesday 8th June 2010

At least ten people, including one policeman and two children no more than 10 years old, were trampled upon and narrowly escaped being crushed to death in a stampede just before Nigeria's friendly against North Korea in Tembisa, South Africa yesterday.

A crowd gathered outside the stadium and forced the gates open before embarking on a mad scramble to gain entrance.

Several fans fell under the rush of people, many wearing Nigerian national team shirts. The Makhulong Stadium seats about 10,000 fans.

Reports said that the first rush came when the gates were opened to allow fans into the stadium. Police soon closed the gates, but when they were reopened, a second rush occurred, with more people falling and being run over.

"When we were coming in they were just stepping on us," said Princess Mbali, who was wearing a green South Africa shirt. "I thought I was dying. I was at the bottom."

Shortly after the second rush, the gates were closed again and much of the crowd dissipated.

A policeman was hurt in the crush and left bloodied. He was later taken away on a stretcher. Other fans who appeared to be lightly injured walked away from the scene as it calmed down.

The Nigeria and North Korean football teams were lining up for the national anthems when the second surge happened. They had no idea what was going on outside.

A witness to the incident said that shield-wielding police tried to stop the surge, and ended up creating a bottle-neck that left tens of people under 100s of feet.

One lady was left half conscious, and had to be revived by quick-acting police officers.

The match commissioner stopped the game minutes into the second half after receiving a belated report, but finally allowed play to continue after four minutes.

"There was a stampede that occurred before the game... There might have been a communication breakdown... people thought they were told they were supposed to pay... they pushed to get into the stadium... they wanted to see their heroes..." said the centre's spokesperson, Colonel Hangwani Mulaudzi.