Pretoria - South Africans are urged to come in large numbers to support Banyana Banyana when they take on Ethiopia in the first leg of the 2012 Olympic Qualifier match at Orlando Stadium on Saturday.
Banyana coach Joseph Mkhonza said he would like football fans to fill the 40 000 capacity Orlando Stadium to give the senior women's national side the edge.
Ethiopia was expected to land in South Africa on Tuesday. The Saturday encounter will kick-off at 3pm, while the gates at the stadium will open at 12:00.
"We are calling on football fans, particularly female, in this August Women's Month, to come to the Orlando Stadium to cheer Banyana Banyana on," he said.
Tickets are available free at selected Sasol Delight Convenience Stores in Soweto, Johannesburg, and surrounding areas.
Banyana are still fresh from a resounding 5-nil win over Mozambique in an international friendly match played at Lucas Moripe Stadium last week Saturday.
While Banyana Banyana has won 11 of their 13 matches played in 2011, Saturday's match is crucial as a win will certainly put Banyana just one match away from qualifying for the 2012 London Olympics, before the face Ethiopia in an away match on September 11.
Mkhonza said his team needs to get a few goals at Orlando to ensure a comfortable cushion for the return leg as travelling to play in foreign territory can often bring in surprise elements.
Fresh from representing South Africa at the World Student Games in China, Banyana Banyana captain Amanda Dlamini said: "We had a good 2011 campaign and we are just two games away from achieving our Olympic dream, the ultimate goal for any athlete."
Ticket holders will be in for a treat by way of a halftime draw that will see two lucky winners and their partners set to accompany Banyana to Ethiopia to witness the return leg on September 11.
Once in possession of match tickets, football fans will need to fill in their contact details on the back of the ticket.
Upon arrival at the stadium, the ticket will then be torn into two pieces; one to be thrown into the competition box provided at the entry point of the stadium, the other piece to be kept by the fan for the half time draw.
