South Africans turning their back on Cup tickets

South African fans were told by world controlling body Fifa and the 2010 Local Organising Committee (LOC) to get their act together and support both the Confederation Cup and the 2010 World Cup finals.

What is worrying Fifa and the LOC is the fact that only 170 000 tickets out of 640 000 have been sold for the Confederation Cup which kicks off in 102 days on June 14 when Bafana Bafana play Asian champions Iraq in the opening Group A match at Ellis Park.

The ticket sales for the World Cup are much better with a third of the 64 matches already sold out. Over 506 000 tickets have been purchased worldwide. Both the opening match and final are sold out.

But warned 2010 LOC chairman Irvin Khoza: “Overseas sales beat local sales by 3-1.

"It is not a good enough. We brought both events here for our people to see the two biggest events on the world soccer calendar and yet the response has been poor.

"I am encouraging and appealing to fans to get out and buy tickets otherwise South African soccer lovers are going to be forced to watch the matches on TV.”

LOC CEO Danny Jordaan was more scathing about the poor response from local fans.

He said: “There has been more enthusiasm form countries like Australia and Canada than from SA. It is disappointing. It will be a poor show if the world TV audience sees empty stadiums at the Confederations Cup. I stress that a successful Confederations Cup will mean an ever bigger World Cup.

"I urge all South Africans to buy tickets now for both events.”

While the World Cup promotes itself, Fifa and the LOC rely on 80 per cent local sales for the Confederations Cup.

But Fifa secretary general Jerome Valcke lashed out at the lack of promotion of the Confederation Cup in all the hosts cities. Said Valcke: “I was astounded when I arrived in the country yesterday (Monday) and did not see a single poster promoting the Confederations Cup.

I have told the LOC that they have to get out and start promoting the event on a massive scale. One cannot expect to sell tickets for the Confederations Cup if there is no promotion. This is the dress rehearsal for the World Cup and needs a lot of advertising and promotion locally. I conveyed this message to the LOC.”

Meanwhile Khoza said that all four stadiums, Ellis Park, Loftus, the Free State Stadium and the Royal Bafokeng Stadium would be ready on schedule for the Confederations Cup.

Khoza also stressed that fans and participating teams need not worry about security during both events following the attack on Sri Lankan cricket players in Pakistan on Tuesday.

Stated Khoza: “Our security will be tight and we a do not envisage any problems.”

Sapa