BOIPATONG.- Boipatong is known for its 1992 Massacre, but the promotion of Boipatong FC to the ABC Motsepe League has since erased this unfortunate history.

The last time the community packed the Boipatong Stadium to capacity was during the massacre mass funeral.

But it marked the start of a new era for this township when the community packed the venue to full capacity to watch the ABC Motsepe League match between the home team, Boipatong FC and Tshwane South College FC on Sunday (October 18).

The whole community came to witness history!

This was the first time the team played at this venue after being promoted to the ABC Motsepe League.

The whole community came to witness this history after a long absence of top-flight football.

Young and old came in numbers to rally behind the club that desperately wants to move away from the bottom of the Stream A log. It was a great atmosphere on the stand with the club’s supporters biting the drama.

This is the same township that made international headlines when men, women and children were brutally killed while others were left injured/paralysed on that fateful night.

Many of them never recovered from this trauma because they lost their loved ones.

But on Sunday, everyone seemed to have forgotten what happened on that night when they gathered at the same venue where they paid their last respects to their loved ones – watching this beautiful game of football.

This massacre didn’t deprive this township of producing big soccer stars.

There was a lot to write home about on Sunday, with friends and families gathered at the venue. This massacre didn’t deprive this township of producing big soccer stars, including legendary soccer teams.

Former Bafana Bafana Captain Aaron ‘Mbazo’ Mokoena was a product of the Boipatong massacre, and he went on to make a name for himself in the world of football.

Zakes’ Sports’ Corner still remembers like yesterday when Mokoena related how his mother dressed him like a girl to disguise him because there were allegations that boy children were targeted.

Back at Boipatong Stadium, the game ended in a 3- 3 draw, and everyone went home entertained with six goals scored on the day. Hat off to the community members who packed the venue to capacity. Football is back for good in Boipatong!