Spokesperson for the Mbombela local municipality in Nelspruit, Vusi Sibiya, said the clocks would be erected at the Nelspruit bus terminus, the Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA) and near the intersection of the N4 and Old Pretoria Road.

Mr Sibiya said the council first had to raise funds to buy two of the clocks.

First National Bank has sponsored one of the clocks so far and can be seen here.

The clocks will count down the number of days left before the start of the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup.

Some of the world cup games will be played at the Mbombela Stadium, which is currently under construction just outside Nelspruit.

The city is also preparing to host the African soccer showpiece, the Council of Southern Africa Football Association (COSAFA) soccer tournament, in December.

Cosafa official Sue Destombes confirmed on Thursday that all U-20 13 teams from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries were expected to arrive in Nelspruit on November 29.

The tournament will take place from December 1 until December 10.

Mr Sibiya said the COSAFA games were a "dress rehearsal" for 2010 and would be played at stadia in Bushbuckridge, KaBokweni and KaNyamazane.

Defending champions of the tournament, South Africa, are in group A with Lesotho, Botswana and Mauritius.

Other countries that will be competing include Zambia, Angola, Seychelles, Namibia, Swaziland, Madagascar, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

The South African U-20 squad includes Blessing Makhathini, Igshan Nazier, Tshepo Gumede, Dumisane, Sifiso Myeni, Ashley Volschenk, Sibusiso Mgcoyana, Thulani Hlatswayo, Mzikayise Mashaba, May Mahlangu, Coldrin Coetzee, Michael Morton, Bongani Sondlane, Thulane Sorero, Mncendisi Ndwandwe, Oupa Manyisa, George Maluleke, Bradley Grobler, Thulani Ngcepe, Mduduzi Nyanda.


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