"Please, don't do this, I have three children": A Night of Chaos at Pretoria

The first leg of the CAF Champions League quarterfinal between Mamelodi Sundowns and Espérance de Tunis ended in dramatic fashion, not just on the pitch but also in the stands.

As tensions flared between rival supporters, chaotic scenes unfolded, leading to a near-tragic incident that was narrowly averted by the quick thinking of a bystander.

In an interview with Times, Masongo, a witness to the shocking events, recounted a harrowing moment when he helped save an Espérance fan from a potentially fatal fall.

There was a major rush among the fans, Masongo explained. Espérance supporters were trying to move to the other side of the stadium when I saw a man hanging. I ran towards him immediately to help.

At first, the distressed fan was unsure of Masongo's intentions. He thought I was trying to push him instead of helping him. But when I held his hands, he started pleading: "Please, don’t do this, I have three children."

Masongo reassured him, saying: I won’t let you fall, I am here to help. The man was losing his grip on the railing, and Masongo took quick action. I grabbed his arm to stabilize his hold and told him: I will pull your bag up. Try to lift your knees. Let’s bring your legs as close as possible so you can pull yourself up.

After multiple attempts, the Espérance fan finally managed to climb to safety. The height was dangerous—about 30 meters. If he had fallen, he would have either died or been left paralyzed, Masongo revealed.

Despite the gravity of the situation, Masongo humbly dismissed any notion of heroism. What I did was not an act of bravery. I don’t want it to be called that. It was my duty. I couldn’t let someone lose their life.

Following the rescue, both men were overcome with emotion. We both started crying. The Espérance supporter couldn't stop thanking me. He took my contact information and said he would call me once he reached Tunisia.

This remarkable moment of humanity amid the chaos serves as a reminder that, beyond football rivalries, life remains the ultimate priority. However, it also raises concerns about stadium safety and crowd control, as CAF may now face pressure to investigate the events that led to such dangerous circumstances.

Rafik Zoghlami |

Editor in Chieffr, ar, en

Rafik Zoghlami is the Editor-in-Chief of Foot-Africa.com, with over 13 years of experience creating and managing sports content.