For the first time in over a year, fans will be able to watch a live sports match at a stadium in South Africa.

2000 soccer fans will be allowed to watch Bafana Bafana take on Ethiopia at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on Tuesday. It’s a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying match.

In a statement, the South African Football Association (SAFA) confirmed that this was a pilot project to get fans back into stadiums.

SAFA President, Dr Danny Jordaan said: “Fans have been hungry to return to the stadium and the small business and informal sector will receive a massive boost as a result of this initiative.”

He added: “This news will be received with delight by those who sell food, flags and taxi drivers who take fans to the stadiums. It is part of the economy that had suffered a lot as a result of fans not being allowed to attend matches. I am happy, this is the beginning of the Restoration of the football economy.’’

This is also a chance for the soccer fraternity to encourage South Africans to get the Covid-19 vaccine as only fully vaccinated fans will be able to enter the stadium.

In the statement SAFA said: “This initiative is part of SAFA using football as a tonic and to expedite mass vaccinations that will enable society to return to normalcy. Tuesday’s process will be fully administered by SAFA, the Stadium Management and the two Government Ministries.”

The website for ticket purchases went live on Monday