I am lucky to have survived the Ellis park tragedy – Pirates fan
Orlando Pirates fan Dejan Miladinovic recalled the day 43 football fans died during a stampede at the Ellis Park Stadium in 2001.
Orlando Pirates super fan Dejan Miladinovic (left) with other Bucs fans. Miladinovic supports the planned march by Pirates supporters to Orlando Stadium on 5 June. (Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix)
Miladinovic visited the stadium on Wednesday morning to lay flowers in remembrance of those that passed on.
READ: Pirates target set to sign new Wits contract
“Being there today reminded me of how lucky I am to be alive today. I was in the stadium sitting behind Pirates’ goal posts during the match. I remember seeing a lot of fans from the Chiefs side put on the field, most people that died were from that side, I could have died as well but I am happy I didn’t, I was lucky,” Miladinovic told Phakaaathi.
The self-proclaimed Pirates number one fan was not happy that no representatives from Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs visited the stadium today.
READ: Zimbabwean midfielder on trial at Maritzburg
“We were there and I think most people have forgotten about the tragedy. No one from the clubs [Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs] showed up. It was just us as fans and a lady that lost her husband and one guy whose son was killed on the day. No one from the clubs showed up but we went and laid flowers there and took pictures.”
