Easier World Cup ticket sales planned for S.Africans

January 18, 2010

South Africans will be able to buy World Cup tickets over the counter, the tournament’s chief said Monday, following complaints that the existing sales system is too complicated for local fans.

Currently South Africans can apply for tickets online or at bank branches, drawing criticism because many fans have no Internet access or have to travel long distances to banks.

“We are definitely in the process of changing this and as a member of the ticketing committee, I am confident that FIFA will understand our position,” chief organiser Danny Jordaan told a government news agency.

He said fans could expect to buy their tickets over the counter from April, adding that FIFA would discuss the details of the new system at its next meeting.

Last week Jordaan voiced concern that few local fans were buying tickets for the national team Bafana Bafana, saying it would the first time in World Cup history that the host nation is not topping the ticket sales list.

Around 50 percent of the three million tickets set aside for South African residents have been sold for the first World Cup on African soil.

JOHANNESBURG (AFP)

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“We’re only halfway there”

November 16, 2009

After the first legs of the European play-offs, France find themselves on the verge of claiming a World Cup ticket. They won the first match against Ireland (0-1), but Patrice Evra and Thierry Henry insist they still have a lot of work to do. “There are still ninety minutes to play.”

France enters the second leg with a lead, caused by Nicolas Anelka’s lucky goal. “I’m very happy, but I know we’re not there yet,” Henry said. “We still have a match to go and we know Ireland can be a difficult opponent. They’re capable of scoring but I’m glad they haven’t done that on Saturday.”

Evra also knows it could be a difficult game on Wednesday. “They are very dangerous from free kicks,” the Manchester United full-back said. “They had never lost in qualification, that says enough about their strength.”

“It’s going to be big game on Wednesday, but I’m ready. I really want to go to the World Cup, but I know we’re not there yet.”

Ireland coach Giovanni Trapattoni insists things can turn out differently for them. “I’ve seen enough surprises in my career,” the Italian said. “We played well and I won’t change my line-up for the return match.

“We just need to try to put more pressure on their defence. It is 50/50. It is only halfway. Anything can happen.”

Paul Haring

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Del Bosque: We’re not there yet

September 6, 2009

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has warned that his side still have work to do to reach the 2010 FIFA World Cup, despite a 5-0 win over Belgium which extended their 100 per cent record in Group 5 of European Zone qualifying.

Spain made it seven wins out of seven on the road to South Africa 2010 after thrashing Belgium in La Coruna on Saturday 5 September. However, they are still not assured of a place at next year’s finals given that closest challengers Bosnia-Herzegovina are six points behind with three games remaining.

Indeed, the last of those matches has Spain travelling to Bosnia-Herzegovina in the final round of group fixtures, and Del Bosque will be hoping his side have their FIFA World Cup ticket booked well before that game.

“It’s a pity that after seven wins in seven encounters we still aren’t qualified, and that’s largely because of the pressure from Bosnia, who have won again,” said Del Bosque.

“We need to continue pushing on, because there are still four points needed to be mathematically sure of going through. We cannot take anything for granted until we’ve achieved it.”

That said, such was the manner of Spain’s performance against Belgium, the European champions should have no problem reaching South Africa and will be among the favourites to go all the way.

And Saturday’s emphatic five-goal win could have been much greater, with a hugely impressive Spain side denied by the woodwork, some great goalkeeping and some indifferent finishing. David Villa also missed a first-half penalty.

In the end, two goals from Valencia duo Villa and David Silva – plus another from Gerard Pique – gave Spain the spoils and earned Del Bosque his 16th win in 17 games since he replaced Luis Aragones after UEFA EURO 2008.

“The team are carrying on the momentum from the European Championship which they won a year ago. We’ve played very well, with brilliant moments, against a good opponent who we’ve overcome with our quality and speed,” said Del Bosque.

Spain are next in action against Estonia in Merida on Wednesday, when they could secure qualification to South Africa 2010 depending on the outcome of that game and Bosnia-Herzegovina’s tricky home fixture against Turkey.

Del Bosque is hoping the fans in Merida will give his side the same sort of support they received in La Coruna this weekend, and that his players can respond with a similar performance.

“I hope we can enjoy it again. The fans here at the Riazor were magnificent, sensational and extraordinary from the moment we arrived – both in quantity and quality,” he said.

Abhimanyu Rajput

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Captain Hassan insists Egypt can qualify for World Cup

July 4, 2009

JOHANNESBURG (AFP) – Captain Ahmed Hassan insists struggling Egypt can reach the 2010 World Cup in South Africa ahead of a crucial qualifier against Rwanda in Cairo Sunday.

Winners of the last two African Nations Cup tournaments, the North Africans lie bottom of Group C with just one point after a home draw against Zambia and away loss to Algeria.

Arch-rivals Algeria top the final qualifying round table with seven points followed by Zambia with four and while Rwanda have only one, they boast a superior goal difference to the Egyptians.

Only victory at Cairo Stadium will keep the ‘Pharaohs’ in contention for first place and a World Cup ticket and midfielder Hassan from Cairo club Al-Ahly believes a weary, unpredictable national team can secure three points.

“Even if we have 50 percent hope we must hold on to it. We still have four games left and if we win them all we will be at the World Cup,” Hassan told local reporters.

“We suffered a heavy defeat in Algeria last month and the players know they did not play well. No individual is to blame for that loss. We were all responsible.”

After a 3-1 reverse in Algeria, Egypt showed what they are capable of at the Confederations Cup in South Africa last month by losing to eventual winners Brazil in stoppage time and defeating world champions Italy.

But with a semi-finals place at the 2010 World Cup dress rehearsal beckoning, the ‘Pharaohs’ imploded in a 3-0 loss to the United States, who went on to finish runners-up behind the Brazilians.

Officials played the humiliating Rustenburg defeat on tiredness, injuries and false South African media reports that some players had been robbed by prostitutes at a Johannesburg hotel after stunning Italy.

After being held goalless at home by Algeria and suffering a solitary-goal loss in Zambia, a Rwandan team coached by Croat Branko Tucak has also arrived at the last chance saloon.

Tucak boasted before the qualifiers began last March that the tiny central African nation could top the table and reach the World Cup finals for the first time.

Those expectations have been downgraded to a top-three finish and a place at the African Nations Cup in Angola six months before the first World Cup to be staged in Africa kicks off.

The winners of the five qualifying groups advance to the World Cup where they will be joined by hosts South Africa while the top three in each pool compete for the Nations Cup beside Angola.

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FIFA has over a million WC tickets applications

March 28, 2009

JOHANNESBURG (AFP) – Over one million World Cup ticket applications have been received by FIFA online and the majority of them are from South Africans, the local organising committee said on Friday.

"The number of applications has far exceeded FIFA’s and the Local Organising Committee’s expectations. Not surprisingly, the country that has submitted the largest number of applications is South Africa followed by the United Kingdom and the USA," the committee said in a statement.

There are only 743,000 available tickets for the first phase of sales which ends on March 31.

"We have had a phenomenal response from football fans around the world. We do expect a last-minute rush over the next few days to beat the deadline, particularly in South Africa, said FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke.

About 50 percent of the applications made so far have been for the Team Specific Series, which allows fans to follow their team of choice as it progresses through the tournament.

Valcke said this trend showed that the method which was first introduced in 2002 was gaining popularity.

All applicants will know by the end of April 2009 whether they have been successful or not.

The second sales period will begin on May 4 and will be open until 16 November.

Remaining tickets will then be allocated on a "first come first served, subject to availability basis".

The local organising committee had earlier this month voiced concern about poor demand for the Confederations Cup tickets, a curtain-raiser for the World Cup to be played in South Africa in June.

Written by: AFP

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FIFA reports ´huge´ World Cup ticket demand

March 20, 2009

GENEVA (AFP) – FIFA said on Friday that ticket sales for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa were booming but world football’s governing body voiced caution about the potential impact of a prolonged economic crisis.

"There are at least 28 matches of the 64 that are sold out, the demand is huge," said FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke after a meeting of the executive committee.

Some 800,000 ticket requests had been made since tickets were opened for sale online on February 20, he added. The strongest demand came from the United States and England.

Valcke said the event’s major sponsors also gave no sign of reconsidering despite fears about the impact of cost-cutting on sports sponsorship.

FIFA said it had weathered the financial turmoil so far, as it reported an increase in its annual financial result in 2008 to 184 million dollars – compared to 49 million dollars the previous year.

FIFA’s equity stock also grew to 902 million dollars.

But officials also voiced caution since 95 percent of FIFA’s revenues over its four year financial period – 2007 to 2010 – depend on World Cup revenues from ticket sales, broadcast rights and corporate sponsorship.

"The financial and economic crisis is not yet over," commented finance chief Markus Kattner.

The global economic crisis is proving to be harsher and more sustained than expected. Many countries are not forecasting a recovery until late this year or next year, and unemployment is rising.

Written by: AFP