NW communities urged to buy Confeds Cup tickets

Monday, May 25, 2009

Klerksdorp - With just over two weeks until the kick-off to the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, Minister for Sports and Recreation, Makhenkesi Stofile has encouraged people in the North West to buy tickets.

"I am here today in the North West to appeal with the communities around here to buy tickets for the Confederations Cup which is to begin in the next few weeks.

"Communities of this province must ensure that they support these games by buying more tickets. It will be so disappointing if the stadiums are empty, so we want to urge all of you to go to the tickets centres and buy your tickets," Minister Stofile said.

The minister was speaking during a 2010 Mass Mobility and Legacy Road Show Programme held at the Matlosana Stadium on Sunday.

The 2010 road show was aimed at rallying communities across the country in support of the Confederations Cup and the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Government has been engaging in various strategies across the country to encourage people to go out in their numbers to buy the tickets.

The mass mobility road shows, which has been rolled out in the Northern Cape and the Eastern Cape, is one of the most active programmes of mobilising support for the Confederations Cup.

The minister highlighted that through this programme they will ensure that more South Africans will go to the stadium in support of the tournament.

"I am very pleased about this programme because it has assisted us in making people understand the importance of the Confederations Cup, that this event is one of the main events that will test our state of readiness for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

"The people here are showing a positive response to our call for support of this tournament. We will be in Bloemfontein in the Free State soon, where we also hope that people will support this call," Minister Stofile said.

The minister also thanked the 2010 ambassadors for their support in the mass mobility road show programme.

Among those who attended the road show were former Bafana Bafana players, Mark Fish, Phil Masinga and the former Banyana Banyana player, Deseree Ellis.

North West Premier, Moureen Modiselle, also encouraged the communities to buy more tickets for the upcoming Confederations Cup.

"Confederations Cup is very important to us here in the North West province, it is one of the events that we must all support by buying more tickets," she said, adding that supporters must show their energy and enthusiasm at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium during the tournament.

She also encouraged communities to be hospitable and friendly towards the visitors coming to the province for the Confederations Cup.

"The time has now come for all of us in the province to be nice and welcoming to all the visitors from other countries. We must show the world the warmth that we as the people of the North West have," the premier said.