Welcomes you to Tanzania
It's not just South Africa that is preparing to welcome thousands of football fans next year - neighbouring countries as far-flung as Tanzania are preparing to host visitors to the 2010 FIFA World Cup
It's not just South Africa that is preparing to welcome thousands of football fans next year - neighbouring countries as far-flung as Tanzania are preparing to host visitors to the 2010 FIFA World Cup
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FIFA allocates more World Cup tickets for Tanzania
Posted: Thursday March 25, 2010 3:11 PM BT
The world soccer governing body, FIFA has endorsed 90 more World Cup tickets for local soccer fans to purchase ahead of the event in South Africa from June 11 t o July 11.
Author: Source: By Nelly Mtema, Daily News March 25, 2010A statement issued by the General Secretary of the Tanzania Football Federation ( TFF) Fredrick Mwakalebela in Dar es Salaam yesterday, said that the move follows the federation request for more tickets allocation to the country, because he said demand exceeded supply. However, Mwakalebela said the tickets increment was still not enough, saying they will continue to persuade FIFA to add more tickets, so as to allow Tanzanian soccer fans descend to South Africa and watch the all World major soccer event staged in African soil for the first time. FIFA has given us 90 more tickets and priority will be given to those who had applied, but could not get them. We still have over 450 pending requests for the quarters, semis and finals, said Mwakalebela. He added that all the added tickets are for the first semi- final match to be played at Green Point Stadium in Cape Town on July 6. He said the lowest price for tickets is 250 US dollars and highest is 600 US Dollars. He said those who had applied should go to the federation and pay for the tickets by April 2. FIFA admits the rush for tickets has not been entirely as fast as they would like in many other countries, citing cost, travel difficulties and concern about security as some of the reasons why fans are reluctantly deciding to stay at home. And the stay away is particularly in Africa. However, that scenario could be slightly different in Tanzania, where soccer fans rushed to grab earlier 290 tickets that were allocated to the country. Apparently, over 700 fans had applied for tickets through the TFF, but only 290 were allocated to the country as it was the case for all other non World Cup participating members. Several critics have said Africa first World Cup is out of reach for all but a tiny proportion of the continent fans because of lack of flights, the consequent high price of tickets and absence of any other transport options. Recently, FIFA General Secretary Jerome Valcke said Mobile ticket centres would be set up in South Africa neighboring countries, in other attempt to make the June 11,July 2011 tournament more accessible to African fans. Source: By Nelly Mtema, Daily News March 25, 2010 |
