Upbeat Japan insist semi-final goal still on
December 5, 2009
Upbeat Japan coach Takeshi Okada insisted Friday making the semi-finals of the World Cup next year remained a realistic goal after they were drawn against the Netherlands, Cameroon and Denmark.
Japan have never made it past the round of 16 in three previous attempts and open their fourth World Cup campaign in Bloemfontein against Cameroon on June 14.
“I think all the opposition countries are rated above us in a sense, but they are within a range that we can cope with. I think the group is not so bad,” Okada told reporters.
“It will be the fourth World Cup finals for Japan and we are aiming for a top four spot. We don’t intend to change our goal and we continue to aim for a top four spot.”
The goal is widely seen as unrealistic and former coach Ivica Osim, who had to step down due to illness in 2007, said the Blue Samurai must not get their hopes up too high.
“The bigger the expectations, the bigger the disappointment,” the Bosnian told Japanese media ahead of the draw.
“Japan is capable of pulling off a surprise, but to get to where Japan is trying to go, they will need a trampoline,” he added.
“You can jump three meters, five meters in the air with a trampoline, but one has to understand how to use a trampoline in the first place.
“So the question is — will Japan be able to figure out how to use a trampoline?”
CAPE TOWN (AFP)
Tags: attempts, Bloemfontein, blue samurai, bosnian, cameroon, cape town, denmark, disappointment, former coach, Japan, japan coach, japanese media, june 14, okada, opposition, osim, realistic goal, semi finals, takeshi, Takeshi Okada, the Netherlands, trampoline, world cup campaign, world cup finalsRelated posts
2010 WCup stadiums almost ready – S.African officials
November 30, 2009
Once a headache for the local organising committee, the 10 South African stadiums for the 2010 World Cup are now pride and joy as they are set to be ready on time for the football extravaganza.
Stadium construction faced many challenges, including strikes in July when more than 70,000 workers asked for salary hikes, countrywide blackouts in January 2008 that crippled the economy, budget deficits and sometimes unpredictable weather.
“It has been a roller-coaster ride. Sometimes we were happy and most times saddened by the criticism and the pessimism but we always knew we would be ready on time,” local organising committee spokesman Rich Mkhondo told AFP.
Mkhondo said five new and five renovated stadiums were now more than 95 percent complete and the final touches were being applied, such as security barriers, planting trees, roads leading to the stadium and parking lot paving.
To win confidence of the local and international community in advance was not easy as many times the capacity of South Africa to deliver world-class tournament infrastructure was scrutinised.
The country’s readiness for the world’s biggest sports spectacular was also questioned when the Nelson Mandela Bay stadium in Port Elizabeth, which cost 2.1 billion rand (282 million dollars, 189 million euro), missed its construction deadline for the curtain-raiser Confederations Cup during June.
Instead, renovated stadiums such as Pretoria, Rustenburg (north-west) and Bloemfontein (central) stole PE’s limelight.
Since then the stadium was the first to be ready for the World Cup.
Other challenges the stadiums faced were public protests.
Greenpoint stadium in Cape Town, one of the semi-final venues, faced fierce competition when residents opposed the development and took the municipality to court.
“We overcame tremendous challenges because in the beginning some residents were opposed to the development (stadium) and tried to stop construction through legal process but lost,” Cape Town World cup 2010 spokesman Pieter Cronje said.
In Nelspruit, township residents protested outside the stadium, demanding a school be built as theirs was used as offices during the construction of the stadium with children taught in containers.
Authorities said construction of a new school would start this week and finish in March.
The stadium architecture had an African feel with roof poles resembled giraffe while criss-crossed black and white seating resembled zebra prints.
Soccer City in Johannesburg, venue for the June 11 opening match and the final on July 11, will seat 91,000 spectators and resembles a calabash while Peter Mokaba stadium in Polokwane is inspired by the locally iconic Baobab tree.
However, there are question around government spending about 10 billion rands (857 million euros), excluding host city contributions, in a country where poverty affects 43 percent of the population.
Mkhondo said all the stadiums had sustainability programmes beyond 2010.
“Before we gave the go ahead to cities to build stadium we asked them (about) long-term plans to utilise them and were satisfied. Most of them will be turned into multi-purpose centres,” he said.
JOHANNESBURG (AFP)
Tags: blackouts, Bloemfontein, budget deficits, cape town, construction deadline, curtain raiser, final touches, johannesburg, local organising committee, nelson mandela, pessimism, Peter Mokaba, Pieter Cronje, planting trees, Port Elizabeth, pretoria, pride and joy, public protests, ready for the world, Rich Mkhondo, Rustenburg, S.African, salary hikes, security barriers, Soccer City, South Africa, unpredictable weatherRelated posts
World Cup hosts SAfrica recall McCarthy
November 6, 2009
World Cup hosts South Africa recalled controversial striker Benni McCarthy Thursday for mid-November home friendlies against Japan and Jamaica.
The scorer of a record 31 Bafana Bafana (The Boys) goals was ignored for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa after shunning a call-up for warm-up games against Norway and Portugal.
McCarthy claimed he had a hamstring injury, but Blackburn Rovers medical staff said the 31-year-old who burst on to the international stage at the 1998 African Nations Cup was fit to play.
There was no place for Spain-based defender Nasief Morris in a 24-man squad chosen by coach Carlos Alberto Parreira, who replaced fellow Brazilian Joel Santana last month and is scheduled to hold his first media conference Friday.
Morris was dumped ahead of the Confederations Cup for indiscipline by Santana, sacked after South Africa suffered eight defeats in their last nine matches.
He shares with captain Aaron Mokoena the distinction of being the only South African footballers playing regularly in an elite European league and was widely expected to be recalled.
South Africa failed to score in away losses against Germany, Republic of Ireland, Norway and Iceland during the last two months, prompting calls from local coaches for McCarthy to be given yet another chance.
Although the outstanding goal predator since South Africa returned to international football in 1992 after three decades of apartheid-induced isolation, McCarthy has frequently ignored national team call-ups.
The Blackburn striker claims he is unfairly singled out as the Bafana ‘bad boy’ during cash-related disputes between the team and South African Football Association officials.
Anti-McCarthy officials and national team supporters accuse him of being an overweight “spoilt brat” wanting to wear national colours only when it suits him.
McCarthy has not impressed Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce this season and reports have linked him with a mid-season loan move to English Premiership strugglers Portsmouth.
The inclusion of midfielder Daine Klate from champions SuperSport United ends a long media campaign for the inclusion of one of the best crossers available to South Africa.
There were also places for three of the team that reached the second round of the World youth championship in Egypt last month – goalkeeper Darren Keet, midfielder Daylon Classen and striker Kermit Erasmus.
South Africa will play the friendlies at 2010 World Cup venues, hosting World Cup qualifiers Japan at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on November 14 in Port Elizabeth and Jamaica at Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein three days later.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Rowen Fernandez (Arminia Bielefeld/GER), Moeneeb Josephs (Orlando Pirates), Darren Keet (Wits University)
Defenders: Morgan Gould and Bongani Khumalo (SuperSport Utd), Siboniso Gaxa (Mamelodi Sundowns), Tsepo Masilela (Maccabi Haifa/ISR), Aaron Mokoena (Portsmouth/ENG, capt), Anele Ngcongca (Genk/BEL), Siyabonga Sangweni (Golden Arrows), Lucas Thwala (Pirates)
Midfielders: Reneilwe Letsholonyane and Siphiwe Tshabalala (Kaizer Chiefs), Daylon Classen (Ajax Amsterdam/NED), Kagisho Dikgacoi (Fulham/ENG), Daine Klate (SuperSport), Teko Modise (Pirates), Macbeth Sibaya (Rubin Kazan/RUS), Elrio van Heerden (Blackburn/ENG)
Strikers: Mabhuti Khenyeza and Katlego Mphela (Sundowns), Kermit Erasmus (Excelsior Rotterdam/NED), Benni McCarthy (Blackburn/ENG), Bernard Parker (Twente/NED)
JOHANNESBURG (AFP)
Tags: 2009 fifa confederations cup, african nations cup, Amsterdam, association officials, bafana, Bay Stadium, Bernard Parker, Bloemfontein, captain Aaron Mokoena, carlos alberto, Carlos Alberto Parreira, Darren Keet, Egypt, english premiership, friendlies, fulham, GER, Germany, Iceland, indiscipline, international football, international stage, Joel Santana, Kermit Erasmus, last two months, Lucas Thwala, man squad, Morris, national colours, NED, nelson mandela, Norway, Orlando, Portsmouth, portugal, republic of ireland, ROTTERDAM, Sam, south african football, south african football association, Spain, spoilt brat, team supporters, three decades, warm up gamesRelated posts
Parreira, Mosimane ready to revive WC hosts SAfrica
October 22, 2009
Former colleagues Carlos Alberto Parreira and Pitso Mosimane are ready to accept the challenge of transforming struggling 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa into a formidable force.
The national football association is scheduled to reveal Friday who will succeed Brazilian coach Joel Santana, fired this week after a run of eight losses from nine outings.
Santana last year replaced compatriot Parreira, who left Bafana Bafana (The Boys) after 16 months in charge to return home and aid his ill wife who has made a full recovery.
Parreira and Santana had the same assistants, Brazilian Jairo Leal and former South Africa striker and SuperSport United coach Mosimane, while in charge of a team that has slumped to a 16-year low of 85 in the world ratings.
“It is possible for me to work in South Africa again,” Parreira told the Brazilian media soon after being fired by Rio de Janeiro-based Fluminense following a string of poor results.
“There is immense pressure on the national team as World Cup hosts and I know the people of that country respect me. I believe they want to retain a Brazilian system of play.”
Mosimane told local journalists that South African Football Association (SAFA) officials indicated he was being groomed to take over Bafana after the 32-nation world championship next June and July.
“That has been my ambition all along, but if taking over immediately would help my country then I am available for the challenge,” stressed the former Greece-based professional.
“On the other hand, if the national association appoint Carlos or someone else I will remain totally dedicated in my role of assistant coach and give 100 percent support.”
Spain (twice), Brazil, Serbia, Germany, Republic of Ireland, Norway and Iceland inflicted defeats on Bafana in a five-month spell from hell that cost 60-year-old Santana his 200,000-dollar-a-month post.
His sole success since June came at home to African minnows Madagascar, the sort of opposition that brought the South American many of his 10 victories in 27 matches since taking charge in mid-2008.
The run of losses plunged South African football into an advance state of depression with politicians, officials, coaches and players debating cures for the national-team ills.
Many fear that unless desperate measures are taken, the first African country to stage the World Cup will also become the first host nation to be eliminated after the first round.
Gavin Hunt, a South African who has coached SuperSport to two league titles in a row and been linked with the national post, labelled Santana “a disgrace” after the 1-0 loss at football lightweights Iceland last week.
Bafana have friendly fixtures scheduled against fellow World Cup qualifiers Japan in Johannesburg on November 14 and against Jamaica in Bloemfontein three days later.
JOHANNESBURG (AFP)
Tags: ambition, assistant coach, Bloemfontein, Carlos, carlos alberto, Carlos Alberto Parreira, compatriot, Gavin Hunt, greece, Iceland, immense pressure, Jamaica, Joel Santana, johannesburg, Madagascar, minnows, nation world, Norway, republic of ireland, rio de janeiro, santana, South Africa, south african football, south african football association, South American, Spain, striker, victRelated posts
Goal feast as Orlando Pirates maintain lead
September 17, 2009
A South African Premiership goal drought came to a abrupt halt Wednesday with 26 in seven matches as Orlando Pirates maintained a four-point advantage at the top.
Bloemfontein Celtic, defending champions SuperSport United and Wits University hit four each in the sixth round of the richest African national championship with a 1.25-million-dollar first prize.
The eight matches last weekend produced just 10 goals and two victories, but there were no midweek blues as Katlego Mphela of Mamelodi Sundowns, Prince Olomu of Celtic and Tefu Mashamaite of Wits led the charge with two each.
Pirates could manage only one in Soweto, but the 62nd-minute effort from Dikgang Mabalane was enough to secure maximum points over lowly Mpumalanga Black Aces.
Daine Klate and Thabo Mongalo grabbed goals in the final five minutes as SuperSport triumphed 4-2 over Moroka Swallows in Pretoria and climbed to fourth, five points adrift of the ‘Buccaneers’.
Wits exploited aerial power against stand-in Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Calvin Marlin to come from behind twice and triumph 4-2 against opponents coached by former Bulgaria World Cup star Hristo Stoickhov.
The ‘Students’ share second place with Celtic, 4-2 winners at unfashionable kwaZulu-Natal club Maritzburg United, who shocked hosts Kaizer Chiefs 1-0 four days ago.
Celtic, whose supporters are the most passionate in the country that hosts the 2010 World Cup, raced into a two-goal lead only to surrender it before goals by Nigerian Olomu and Sandile Ndlovu sealed the points.
An early penalty from Botswana star Dipsy Selolwane brought Ajax Cape Town a 1-0 win over AmaZulu in Durban and Malian Sekou Camara levelled for Jomo Cosmos in a 1-1 draw against Santos in Cape Town.
Aleni Lebeyane and Professor Ramoraswi scored to set up a 3-1 win for Free State Stars over Golden Arrows, a result that gave the hosts a first league success of the season and the visitors a first loss.
JOHANNESBURG (AFP)
Tags: abrupt halt, ajax cape town, aleni, amazulu, black aces, Bloemfontein, Botswana, Calvin Marlin, cape town, dipsy selolwane, Durban, goal drought, golden arrows, hristo, johannesburg, malian, mamelodi sundowns, maritzburg united, maximum points, minute effort, Natal, Orlando, orlando pirates, point advantage, pretoria, Prince Olomu, Professor Ramoraswi, Santos, soweto, wits universityRelated posts
Twitter might not be harmless fun for players
August 6, 2009
The days when the details of transfer negotiations were closely guarded secrets could be coming to an end with the advent of the ‘Twitter transfer’.
On Wednesday, U.S. national team striker Jozy Altidore all but announced a move to English Premier League Hull City on the micro-blogging site, keeping his fans updated while Hull remained silent.
Altidore, who is owned by Spanish club Villarreal, alerted followers to a potential move on Tuesday when he informed them he would be up early on Wednesday morning for a flight to England.
After details about his flight and weather on arrival he held back from announcing the deal but gave the game away by posting info of his first game.
“First match is against Chelsea subject to a work permit *wink* *wink* lol thanks for the support and love keep it coming,” he wrote.
While Altidore’s upbeat updates are unlikely to upset anyone, England striker Darren Bent apologised to Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy last month about comments on Twitter relating to his move to Sunderland.
Bent aimed an expletive at Levy and said, “Do I wanna go Hull City? NO. Do I wanna go Stoke? NO. Do I wanna go Sunderland? YES.”
The forward’s wish was finally granted on Wednesday when he completed a move from Spurs to Sunderland for an initial fee of 10 million pounds ($16.98 million).
There was not a tweet out of Bent, though: his account was closed down after the dispute with Spurs.
Twitter appears harmless fun for many, many sportspeople — golfers, tennis players, cyclists, NBA and NFL players — who send snippets of their daily routine out to their followers. The problem, as the Bent case shows, comes when things aren’t going well for the individual.
There is a potential minefield involved with sportspeople broadcasting their thoughts at will — contract negotiations, dressing room disputes, personal problems are all topics that team and PR people would probably hope do not get broadcast to the world.
Those sportspeople using Twitter — and there are thousands of them — seem to regard it is a cool and easy way to keep in touch with their fans. So how can the control-freaks control other than to ban Twitter use? And that’s not going to happen, is it?
PHOTO: Jozy Altidore of the U.S. celebrates after scoring a goal during their Confederations Cup semi-final soccer match against Spain at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein June 24, 2009. REUTERS/Jerry Lampen
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Confederations Cup players were drug free: FIFA
July 8, 2009
JOHANNESBURG (AFP) – Drug tests conducted on teams who participated in the Confederations Cup, a curtain-raiser for next year’s World Cup came out negative, said football’s world governing body FIFA in a statement on Tuesday.
“A total of 131 urine and blood tests were conducted as part of the testing programme,” said the statement.
It said FIFA doping control officers visited all eight participating teams and performed unannounced out of competition tests two months before the competition.
Eight players per team were drawn, which meant that a total of 64 players were tested out of competition .
FIFA Medical officer, Professor Jiri Dvorak said:”Some players were surprised when we woke them up at 7am, but the cooperation of all teams was excellent.”
During the tournament held from June 14 to June 28, two players a team were randomly selected for doping control at all 16 matches.
“All the usual prohibited substances and methods were searched for in the urine and blood tests, including stimulants, anabolic steroids, diuretics and erythropoietin,” Fifa said.
FIFA was “satisfied” with the teams’ co-operation and the smooth running of the analyses at the South African Doping Control Laboratory in Bloemfontein.
“The results of the testing programme show that high performances are possible in top-level football without the use of prohibited substances or methods.”
Since 1994 about 6,483 doping tests have been performed in FIFA final competitions and only three players have tested positive for a prohibited substance doping tests, said the statement.
Tags: African, anabolic steroids, Bloemfontein, blood tests, body fifa, competitions, confederations cup, control laboratory, cooperation, curtain raiser, doping control, drug tests, erythropoietin, jiri dvorak, johannesburg, june 14, Medical, medical officer, statement, stimulants, substance, World Cup, world governing bodyRelated posts
Torres warns S.Africa of Confed Cup Spanish backlash
June 28, 2009
JOHANNESBURG (AFP) – Spain striker Fernando Torres has warned South Africa to expect a backlash when they clash in the Confederations Cup third place play-off on Sunday.
“We must go back to square one and start putting some more wins together,” Torres said in the aftermath of a stunning semi-final loss to the United States on Wednesday.
European champions Spain cruised into the semi-finals with three consecutive group-stage victories and no-one expected ‘La Furia Roja’ to come unstuck in the central city of Bloemfontein.
But Liverpool star Torres and company saw a world record-equalling 35-match unbeaten run come to an abrupt halt as the USA scored in each half while keeping a clean sheet on a freezing night.
“I would love us to go another 35 matches without losing. That would be great, especially with a World Cup in the middle,” said the three-goal joint-leading Confederations Cup scorer.
“The most important thing now is that we keep showing the same down-to-earth approach as we did when we went all that time unbeaten. The really big challenges are only just beginning.”
Torres accepts that a South African team beaten 2-0 by Spain last weekend will be hopeful of a reversal in fortunes at the Rustenburg Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace after putting on a brave show in the 1-0 semi-final loss to Brazil.
“We know that it is going to get harder to win. Our opponents are going to know more about us and will want to beat us because defeating Spain now is like it was before to beat Brazil or Argentina,” Torres added.
Torres will also be keen to get back on the goal trail having failed to hit the target against Iraq, South Africa or the United States after a 12-minute hat-trick demolished New Zealand.
His likely minder on Sunday afternoon is Matthew Booth, the tallest footballer at the 2010 World Cup dress rehearsal and a favourite of the home crowd, who chant his name in admiration each time he touches the ball.
Booth has shortcomings, particularly in the pace department, but sticks to opponents like glue as Brazilian Luis Fabiano will testify after an unrewarding semi-final outing.
“We want revenge over Spain,” Booth told reporters. “We have grown as a team on and off the field during this tournament and much of the credit must go to coach Joel Santana.”
Czech Republic, United States, Australia, Turkey and Germany won the previous third-place play-offs, with easily the most memorable match being the Germans’ 4-3 extra-time triumph over Mexico four years ago.
Tags: abrupt halt, Argentina, Australia, bafokeng, Bloemfontein, brazil, confederations cup, consecutive group, cup scorer, czech republic, dress rehearsal, earth approach, English Premier League, european champions, Fernando Torres, footballer, Germany, goal trail, group stage, hat trick, home crowd, Iraq, Joel Santana, johannesburg, LA Liga, Liverpool, luis fabiano, Matthew Booth, Mexico, New Zealand, Rustenburg, semi finals, South Africa, Spain, sports palace, target, Turkey, United States, USARelated posts
South Africa´s World Cup puts dreams in sight for African footballer
June 27, 2009
BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa (AFP) – The modest apartment of Ulrich M’Boume Dioba has a clear view of one of South Africa’s World Cup stadiums, an image of hope for the young Gabonese footballer but also a stinging reminder of his struggles.
The 22-year-old from the central African country of Gabon played his nation’s Premier League, his star has waned since arriving three years ago in South Africa, where he’s struggling to find a club — making the world stage represented by the Free State Stadium a distant dream.
“It’s been eight months since I had a team,” says 22-year-old Dioba, his athletic build clad in a tracksuit and sneakers.
“Dad sometimes sends me money, but that’s painful for me. I am supposed to be sending the money home.”
“When I was small, dad told me off when I threw away food. Now I understand why,” Dioba adds.
Without a contract, Ulrich can no longer afford to pay rent and is living with fellow footballer Cyril Mubiala, who comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo and plays for the Bloemfontein Celtic, a South African Premier League club.
He shares a room with a fellow Gabonese footballer who is also looking for a club, on the 13th floor of a building in Bloemfontein — the country’s judicial capital — a city bordered by farmland and the arid Karoo desert.
“They have the talent, you can’t leave them in the street”, explains Mubiala, whose living room is a showcase of his South African medals and trophies.
“My dream is not to play for Real or at Chelsea. It is not to have a name, like Didier Drogba (Chelsea centre forward). It’s just to be financially comfortable,” Ulrich explains in French peppered with bits of English.
When he landed in South Africa at the end of 2006 for his first contract abroad, Ulrich couldn’t speak a word of English.
When practicing with the Ajax development team in Cape Town, he struggled.
“I didn’t understand anything. The coach told me to do two throw-ins, I did three or four. Now I speak better than my sister who is an English teacher,” says Ulrich, bursting into laughter.
The beginning was hard, and it has not gotten any easier.
“When you leave (Gabon), you are filled with joy. And when you arrive, the problems start,” he says of the language barriers, the freezing cold winters, and the absence of family.
“Here, you must work twice as hard as a South African to get a job,” says Ulrich, sporting a finely drawn goatee and fake diamond earrings.
After bouncing from club to club, he finally landed on the Bloemfontein Celtic development team, but at the beginning of 2008 the club changed management and fired him.
Undeterred, Ulrich then found a four-month contract in a third division club in Bloemfontein, and has been jobless since.
The Confederations Cup, which has run for the last two weeks and ends Sunday, has helped him as he attends training sessions by the national teams passing through the city ahead of the 2010 World Cup.
“I copy their exercises,” he explains.
In the next few weeks, Ulrich will test with three clubs in hope of landing a contract.
“If things don’t go as I dream, I will return to Gabon,” he says.
“The jealous ones would be glad to see me returning to the country,” he says. “I want to show them up. My dream is to go to Europe. I must just be patient.”
Tags: 13th floor, Bloemfontein, bloemfontein celtic, bloemfontein south africa, cape town, central African, CHELSEA, Congo, cyril, Cyril Mubiala, Democratic Republic, democratic republic of congo, distant dream, drogba chelsea, eight months, Europe, farmland, first contract, footballer, Gabon, image of hope, karoo desert, medals and trophies, premier league, republic of congo, South Africa, south african premier league, State Stadium, teache, tracksuit, Ulrich, WC Qualifying South-Africa, world cup stadiums, world stageRelated posts
To fill Confed stadiums, tickets are given away
June 26, 2009
JOHANNESBURG (AFP) – The Confederations Cup has drawn near-record South African TV viewers and packed stadiums at the most popular games, but gaps in the stands has prompted organisers to give away thousands of tickets.
The tournament kicked off amid concerns about slow tickets sales, with FIFA president Sepp Blatter criticising the local organisers for failing to fill the stands for the opening match on June 14.
Sales were especially soft for matches played by teams not well known to local fans, with some unfolding before half empty stands — most noticeable in the Spain-New Zealand game in Rustenburg, just two hours from Johannesburg.
The solution: give away the extra tickets.
Private companies and government agencies have purchased bulk batches to give away thousands of tickets.
Tickets had been specially priced to encourage locals to attend. At Wednesday’s semi-final when the United States bested Spain 2-0, the cheapest seats were 140 rands (17 dollars).
But in a country where 43 percent of the population live on less than two dollars a day, even that price is steep.
Moses Ntsizi, a janitor who earns 1,300 rands a month, lucked out by receiving a free ticket from his employer to see Wednesday’s match in Bloemfontein.
“My dream has come true. I can see Spain playing,” he said during the match. “I can see their method. They do not panic when they have the ball.”
Ntsizi says he regularly watches the Bloemfontein Celtics, but those tickets cost only 20 rands.
Others in the crowd said they received free tickets from the city government, but many have turned to TV parks where big screens have been set up to allow the public to watch the games for free.
“I did not have the money to go to the stadium. But I enjoy the big screen,” said 18-year-old orphan Diteboho Lefeta, who despite the cold weather came to a tent set up by the city to watch the game with others from his orphanage.
FIFA’s ticketing system drew criticism ahead of the June 14-28 tournament for focusing on online sales in a country where Internet access remains a luxury.
Tickets could also be bought from a bank, but getting to the branches also posed a problem due to the lack of public transportation.
The policy was later relaxed and ticketing kiosks were rolled out in the four host cities.
Organisers say they are happy overall, and television audiences for games that South Africa played in were near record size, according to FIFA.
The Bafana Bafana match against New Zealand on June 17 attracted over six million viewers, not counting fans at the TV parks or other public spaces, according to FIFA.
That’s lower than the 10 to 12 million Germans who watched their team play on TV when they hosted the last Confed Cup. But officials point out that Germany’s population is larger and almost every home has a television. Not all South Africans even have electricity.
“The figures compare well considering difference in population,” FIFA television broadcast director, Niklas Ericson told reporters.
Rich Mkhondo, spokesman for the organising committee, said South Africa had done its best to publicise the games and make them accessible to the public.
“The organisation of the tournament cannot be judged by a couple of games which did not attract maximum crowds. Attendance has been very impressive at most of the games,” said Mkhondo.
Tags: batches, blatter, Bloemfontein, bloemfontein celtics, city government, cold weather, confederations cup, empty stands, free ticket, Germany, janitor, johannesburg, june 14, Moses Ntsizi, Niklas Ericson, orphanage, popular games, private companies, Rich Mkhondo, Rustenburg, Sepp Blatter, South Africa, south african tv, south africans, Spain, stadiums, ticketing system, tv viewers, two dollars, United States, World Cup
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