By Mark Baber
January 18 – The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off tomorrow with hosts South Africa playing Cape Verde at the National Stadium in Johannesburg and the South African organisers are ready to go.
Local Organising Committee chief executive Mvuzo Mbebe: “When we started this journey, we said we would try our best to make the continent proud, make the Confederation of African Football (CAF) proud, and ensure spectators get a good experience.”
“We have tried our best, and there will no doubt be glitches along the way and challenges in certain areas, but we believe we are ready.”
The main concern of the organisers has been over ticket sales, with only 60,000 tickets sold for seven matches at Royal Bafokeng Stadium. But the organisers say sales have picked up over the past two weeks and are expecting the crowds to grow as it grows.
Only the opening day matches have been sold out but the LOC hopes to see a boost in ticket sales during the tournament.
Crucial to the growth of the crowds will be the performance of Bafana Bafana, the South African team. The South African player have said they will forego their bonuses until they have qualified from the group stages.
For some nations the African Cup will bring mixed emotions. Mali’s football team open their challenge for the tournament against Niger on Sunday, against a domestic backdrop of government and West African forces fighting rebel islamists for control of the North of the country.
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