Hack warns Bafana spectators
2005-06-14 16:24
Johannesburg - South African Football Association (Safa) CEO Raymond Hack on Tuesday warned prospective spectators at Saturday's World Cup qualifying showdown between South Africa and Ghana at the FNB Stadium "not to turn up if you don't have an admission ticket.
"The stadium seats 80 000," said the Safa CEO at a media conference aimed at outlining the intricate arrangements for the Ghana game.
"But a firm decision has been taken for security and other reasons not to make tickets available at the ground - no matter how many have been sold beforehand."
Hack said the decision was in line with requirements that would be mandatory at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and it was felt necessary to implement the procedure for all major games staged by Safa at the FNB Stadium.
But in order to facilitate the purchase of tickets for Saturday's game, Safa will open a special booking outlet at the FNB Stadium on Youth Day (Thursday) in addition to the regular ticket points that would operate until hours before the game.
"This will give anyone who is unable to purchase a ticket on normal working days to do so on the holiday," said the Safa CEO.
And once the ticket is purchased, spectators will be confronted by a stringent security procedure that will include check points and the closure of a number of roads to traffic in the vicinity of the Stadium.
Stadium manager Dennis Mumble reiterated that "Operation Law and Order" would become the norm for all major games at what is earmarked to be the headquarters of the 2010 World Cup.
"It is essential to educate South African soccer spectators to the requirements of Fifa," said the FNB general manager, "and the sooner we start the better."
Hack said Safa had proclaimed Saturday as "Family Day" in the hope that entire families would descend on the Stadium to offer encouragement to Bafana for what is a vital hurdle in the World Cup qualifying campaign.
And major Safa sponsors have undertaken to transport up to 5 000 children to FNB Stadium for the Ghana match and "look after them" for the entire duration of the proceedings.
- SAPA