Bafana Bafana will be playing against Norway in a friendly international at Cape Town Stadium on 8 January 2013.
This is the second match hosted by the magnificent soccer arena built for the 2010 World Cup, the first being a sell-out encounter against the USA in November 2010, which the home side lost 1-0.
South Africa last played against Norway in an international friendly match in March 2009 in Phokeng, near Rustenburg in which Bafana emerged 2-1 winners.
“To play Bafana in South Africa in January is a good start to the 2013 year for us. We are preparing for the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ qualifiers starting in March next year and we have a bunch of young players knocking on the door right now.”
“We played South Africa prior to the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ and we unfortunately lost. I personally hope that this is not going to happen again,” said Norwegian coach Egil Olsen.
Bafana Bafana head coach, Gordon Igesund, was equally excited about the match.
“Norway is a quality opponent and we are grateful that we get the chance to play them as we near the end of our preparations for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations tournament which will begin less than two weeks after this match. The exciting part of this clash, is that it affords me an opportunity to fine tune my final combination that will play in the tournament, so this will be a good test for us and will help us gauge our readiness,” said Igesund, who could not attend the announcement as he is in England visiting some of the South African players.
Ranked 26th on the FIFA World Ranking, the Scandinavians are expected to descend on Cape Town’s sunny shores in the midst of the peak summer tourism season.
“South Africa is a perfect destination for these types of preparations and camps. Firstly, it is snowing and cold in Norway at this time of the year. Secondly, there is no time difference and the fact that the infrastructure, quality of the food and hospitality in South Africa is overwhelming is a huge plus for us,” said Norwegian Team Manager Nils Johan Semb.
The Western Cape has seen a massive jump in international, regional and domestic tourism numbers and this growth bodes well for the overall economy of the region.
Major events like the Bafana Bafana match are key levers in the City’s strategic intent to continually grow the attractiveness of the region as a globally competitive tourism destination.
“It’s like a dream for me to bring the Norwegian national team to South Africa, in particular Cape Town. It is my second mother land, and I really want to show our players, media and Norwegians the best of my favourite town on earth. We are bringing the whole management for a week as well, and we will be training with friends at Ajax. I am really looking forward to this,” said Kjetil Siem, General Secretary of the Norway Football Federation.
His counterpart in the South African Football Association, Dr Robin Petersen, had this to say, “We are indeed honoured to host the calibre of opponents like Norway as we prepare for AFCON. As SAFA we have always maintained that we will give our coach all the support he needs to do well in the tournament and this is testament to our promise. They are a top-ranked nation and should help us in our quest to succeed in the tournament.”
Whether one is a supporter of football or not, the Bafana Bafana clash against Norway will be a highpoint to kick-off 2013. The trumpeting sounds of vuvuzelas, the donning of our favourite green and yellow jerseys, the proud waving of South African flags, the excited gait to get to the stadium on time and the colourful attractions of Cape Town’s much loved Fan Walk will provide a memorable start to the New Year.
The City invites its residents to come out in numbers and support Bafana Bafana as they play their penultimate match before their participation in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations. Fans are urged to give the squad a true Cape Town send-off in their goal to be Africa’s Champions.
Tickets for this international spectacle range between R50 and R100, making it possible for fifty-five-thousand (55 000) fans to descend on the Cape Town Stadium.
Tickets will go on sale on 20 November 2012 and will be available at all Computicket, Shoprite, Checkers and Shoprite/Checkers outlets around the country.
