{
  "id": 17382898,
  "title": "The long, costly road to the Soweto derby for three devoted Orlando Pirates fans",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/the-long-costly-road-to-the-soweto-derby-for-three-devoted-orlando",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-31T10:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "IOL",
    "slug": "iol",
    "url": "https://iol.co.za/sport/soccer/psl/2026-10-31-the-long-costly-road-to-the-soweto-derby-for-three-devoted-orlando-pirates-fans/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Three ardent Orlando Pirates supporters, Dumisani Mgabhi, Sakhile Mthethwa, and Bafana Mthenjwa, faced a lengthy and costly journey to watch their beloved team in action. The trio, affectionately known as '3935', embarked on a nine-hour drive from Piet Retief to Johannesburg via Mpumalanga, enduring traffic and other inconveniences along the way. Their travel expenses amounted to around R2,700 for the one-way trip, while they allocated R2,400 for accommodation and at least R1,500 for food during their three-night stay at Ecomotel in Park Station. Despite the financial burden, the fans remain devoted to the club, having followed Pirates for years and even traveling extensively to support the team. Their dedication is fueled by the love of the badge, the joy it brings, and the desire to instill pride in their children. The supporters are aware that their team may not always win, but they remain committed to backing the Pirates through thick and thin, celebrating their successes and dancing on the sidelines when they face defeat.",
  "summary": "Three devoted Orlando Pirates fans share the nine-hour drive, thousands of rands, and unwavering passion required to follow their team to the Soweto derby.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Citizen",
        "title": "Three key players for Orlando Pirates in Soweto derby",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/30/three-key-players-for-orlando-pirates-in-soweto-derby",
        "published": "2026-10-30T13:21:34.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}