South Africans are encouraged to buy 2010 tickets and Show their Support

The 2010 World Cup Chief and Deputy President Baleka Mbete are encouraging fellow South Africans to buy tickets to the World Cup games. Mbete has spoken to the soccer fans motivating them to buy tickets now rather than wait until they are sold out to the international fans. Mbete stated; “We know you like soccer, but you wait until the last minute to buy tickets - not tomorrow, now.”

The feedback from the South Africans until now has been good as we have seen at last week’s World Cup draw in Cape Town. 50 % of the tickets have been bought by South Africans so far but is still showing under the level of tickets sales expected by locals.

Some have complained about expensive ticket prices, even considering the discount offered to South Africans who are eligible to buy category D tickets priced at 140 rand ($18). Still these prices are about seven times more expensive than the usual round-the-year tickets they are usually used to buy. This might be the reason behind the disappointing ticket sales so far.

Last week, Jordaan sent out praises to the thousands of fans who attended the draw last Friday but also stated that he is concerned about the fact that South Africans fans might be outnumbered at the games saying they need to change their behavior.

He commented; “People gathered there from the morning to the next morning, celebrating the draw, not even a match. I can see the excitement. I always say South Africans are great believers, now is their time to believe. When they believe they embrace, they get excited about and they move into the streets. They celebrate an event. I think the world got some idea – both through the show and the streets of Cape Town – of what this World Cup is going to be about: a real World Cup with a human face, of human passion and excitement, joy and celebration. And our team must contribute. The responsibility is going to be heavier for Bafana Bafana, but each one of the 32 teams is carrying their own loads.”

Following the draw Jerome Valcke, FIFA secretary general commented on the fact that South Africa is now in a “difficult” group which they will have to face during the games. He also said last Saturday saw the start of the third phase of ticketing, with 7,000 individual applications received, now amounting to a total of 55,000 tickets received so far through the FIFA website.