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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
FOUR Zimbabweans from Bulawayo, all temporarily based in South Africa, Lovemore Fuyane, Shepherd Maphisa, Morgan Sebele and Chris Gora were part of the 80,000 plus crowd that witnessed the El Clasico at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Spain on Saturday evening.
The match ended 3-1 in favour of Real Madrid.
A card-carrying member of Spanish giants Barcelona, Fuyane described the experience as electric.
“The experience was great, although we lost,” Fuyane told Chronicle Sport yesterday.
Barca shot into the lead as early as the fourth minute through Brazilian skipper Neymar but the home side, led by World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo, equalised through the Portuguese international who scored from the spot in the 35th minute. His countryman Pepe gave the Galácticos the lead early in the second half before Frenchman Karim Benzema sealed victory for Real Madrid who are now just a point behind Barcelona.
Before the clash, Luis Enrique’s boys were not only undefeated but were also yet to concede a goal since the season started.
The match also saw the return of Luis Suarez to competitive football after his four-month ban for biting Italian Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup finals in Brazil.
The world’s most richly-decorated football match, which even in the absence of the injured Gareth Bale, still boasted a comfortable majority of the world’s top 10 footballers, produced a scintillating display of attacking football.
“We made our way into the stadium 45 minutes before kick-off and settled in our seats, this time three rows from the front. From this position we were within earshot and could call out to the players and take photos as we wished, it was an amazing experience. Sebele had initially been reluctant for us to wear our Barca colours given we were visiting the home of the old enemy but I insisted on wearing my Senyera (the red and yellow striped away Barca shirt) and I quickly bought him a Luis Suarez number 9 jersey in one of the local sports shops,” said Fuyane.
He said the pre-game festivities were what was expected of the Spanish La Liga with the usual festive singing and the massive banner displays, the loudest voices coming from the Ultras – the equivalent of Soweto at Barbourfields.
“Almost all top teams have this special group of die-hard supporters, the Nou Camp in Barcelona is no different. Although donned in our colours there was absolutely no hostility from the Madrid supporters around us. With the language barrier between us it was still universally understood that we were all there to enjoy good football,” said Fuyane.
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