Government supports Afcon ticket sales
IN AN effort to increase ticket sales for the African Cup of Nations (Afcon) tournament, the provincial Government Information System (GCIS) held an awareness drive at intersections across the city yesterday encouraging the public to buy tickets.
The drive comes after it was reported earlier this week that organisers were battling to sell tickets for the games in Port Elizabeth.
With seven days before the tournament kicks off, GCIS provincial director Ndlelantle Pinyana said the local organising committee had reached half a million ticket sales nationally.
“We are trying to mobilise people from all over the province to go to PE for the games,” Pinyana said.
The delegation, which included Buffalo City Metro employees, handed out pamphlets, vuvuzelas and flags to motorists in Devereaux Avenue.
“This is a unique approach to create awareness. Government doesn’t often do this but we want as many people as we can get to go and support Afcon,” he said.
Pinyana was optimistic that more people would buy tickets for the games in Port Elizabeth.
“Momentum is slowing building up, people are buying tickets. People will be at the stadium,” Pinyana said.
He said during the awareness drive yesterday people said they would be buying their tickets after getting paid this weekend or next.
“People have just come back from the festive season and obviously they need time to plan ahead but this is going to be a success,” he said.
Nelson Mandela Bay will host its first match on January 20 when Ghana play the DRC at 5pm and Mali face Niger at 8pm. Tickets are available at SuperSpar stores and individual tickets start at R50. — poliswap@dispatch.