A perfect night at Old Trafford

My people will tell you this, whenever I watch Manchester United games on TV back home, I watch from the build-up. I like to see those shots of United fans cascading into Old Trafford. I had always wondered when I'd get to experience that. And then, last night, my chance came and I wanted to properly live it. I wanted to drink up the Old Trafford pre-match atmosphere. 

I arrived two and a half hours before kickoff. I walked around, visiting stalls and bought a matchday scarf, a timeless souvenir. I saw Michael Carrick, that elegant midfielder of yesteryear, taking time to pose for pics with fans and sign autographs before heading in to one of the stadium's suits via the Directors' entrance. 

I saw the Munich Tunnel, on the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand. It is ligned up with news article cut-outs and facts from the Munich air disaster of 1958. United have done well to keep the memory of 1958 alive. The club museum inside Old Trafford also has an entire section dedicated to the 1958 disaster. The Munich Tunnel also houses entrances that lead up to some of Old Trafford's suits.

While waiting in a line to take pictures with replicas of United's famed 1999 treble (the only club to have achieved this, by the way), I overhead a young United supporter behind me talking of her desire to get David De Gea's shirt after the match. She carried a placard with that message. At the end of the match, I saw De Gea give her shirt to someone behind the goalposts. I hope it was that little girl. 

Back to pre-match, I saw the Bishop Blaize, where United supporters gather and begin singing ahead of kickoff. I then had chips, one of the traditional pre-match meals and met a group of fellow supporters from Wales. One of them told me he knew Eswatini & loved our flag- apparently, he is a flag enthusiast. 

About 40 minutes to kickoff, I made my way into the ground. I had originally arrived via Sir Alex Ferguson Way. I was now re-entering the stadium precinct via Sir Matt Busby Way- the roads around Old Trafford rightly honouring true greats of this club. At that time, supporters in their numbers, young and old, were flocking into the stadium via Sir Matt Busby Way, hoping for a good night's shift in their hearts. It was a glorious sight.

Another sight worth mentioning was the security in and around the stadium. At every turn you took, at every entrance, there were security officials. I felt secure. Once I'd made it past the turnstiles, along the hallways, United supporters gathered to watch the buildup on the plenty TVs around, watching closely as manager Erik ten Hag gave his pre-match thoughts to the TV cameras. 

I was eager to see the warm-ups so I made my way to my seat, briefly getting lost before a steward assisted me. My seat was on the corner of the Sir Alex Ferguson stand, just above where Casemiro celebrated his goal, a perfect spot. Next to me was a supporter who'd watched United for over 15 years, the contrast couldn't be more stark. When we scored the first goal, he turned around to hug me. That would be the routine for the next two goals as well. 

Before the goals, just ahead of kickoff, Lisandro Martinez, back from winning the World Cup with Argentina, was given a rousing reception by Old Trafford. I was up, too, clapping. It was electric. The Stretford End unveiled an Argentina flag as Martinez walked onto the pitch. He would receive the same reception as he was subbed on late in the game.

At half-time, Fred the Red, United's famous mascot, made his way around the ground, punching the air, waving to supporters. I then remembered watching from TV in Sihhoye in 2013 as Fred the Red gave the retiring Sir Alex Ferguson a hug in his final match at Old Trafford. A lot has happened since.

The supporter sat next to me told me his favourite United player ever was Wayne Rooney- also my all-time favourite. They love Rooney at Old Trafford. At the Bishop Blaize long before kickoff, they were singing his song: "I saw my mate the other day, He said to me he saw the white Pele. So I asked, who is he, He goes by the name of Wayne Rooney, Wayne Rooney, Wayne Rooney. He goes by the name of Wayne Rooney."

The Stretford End, Old Trafford's famously noisy section, also rang the chant during the match. There were also tributes to Eric Cantona and Ole Gunnar Solskjær, his ill-fated United managerial stint forgotten. 

The goals were a treat. There is something about being in the stands when United attacks. As the attack begins, almost all the supporters (those seated) will, almost rhythmically, stand, and then, in anticipation, as if the entire stadium is holding its breath, wait...and then boom! As the ball hits the net, Old Trafford erupts into a frenzy of celebration. Casemiro, Shaw and Rashford. Game. Set. Match. 

As the match drew to a close, one supporter around us shared news that Arsenal and Newcastle had drawn their match in London. That result coupled with our win meant we matched Newcastle's points on third spot, with a game in hand. 

As the referee blew his final whistle, I stayed around for a bit to see United players, led by captain Harry Maguire, go around the ground to salute the supporters. As he made his way into the tunnel via the Stretford End, Martinez received yet another massive reception. But perhaps the biggest of those was given to Casemiro, later voted man of the match.

He is quickly turning into a fan favourite among United supporters. During the match, almost his every interception and pass was greeted with a huge roar of approval by the Theatre. The supporter next to me couldn't stop raving about him.

Outside the ground as I left, the entire place was at a standstill. You don't want to be on a road near Old Trafford on matchdays as 70 000 people make their way into and out of the stadium. Last night, there were 73 000 of us, Alan Keegan, the United stadium announer, also known as the Voice of Old Trafford, had announced. 

We left in different directions, some via Sir Matt Busby Way, others via Sir Alex Ferguson Way but all of us with a bit more hope and anticipation for what lies ahead. 

The scoreboard as I left Old Trafford read, "Manchester United 3-0 Bournemouth." It couldn't have been a more perfect night.

By: Sibongiseni Zondi