South Africans, by & large, do not believe in the principle of reserved seating at soccer matches. And they are not too happy either having to pay anything but a minimal amount for admission.

These are two facets among a not inconsiderable number to which local soccer fans will need to conform to widely-accepted international standards before the hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup Soccer.

With this in mind, the organisers of the series of friendly matches involving Manchester United, Kaizer Chiefs & Orlando Pirates next month - which are masquerading under the banner of the Vodacom Challenge tournament - will provide some early, but revealing pointers.

Tickets for the four games at the King's Park Rugby Stadium in Durban (Jul 15), Newlands Stadium in Cape Town (Jul 19), the Royal Bafokeng Palace in Rustenburg (Jul 20) & the final fixture at Loftus in Pretoria (Jul 22) are already on sale.

Although a good deal cheaper than admission promises to be at the World Cup in 2010, the prices are considerably higher than South Africans are accustomed to forking out for soccer matches.

Prices will vary from R55 to R350 for the series of four games in which United are bizarrely assured of a place in the so-called final - even if they are the least successful of the three competing teams after three matches.

Organisers Sail have also announced the introduction of a "reserved seating only" policy at all four games, with the series forming an early platform for the introduction of various other safety & security measures that will be mandatory at the 2010 FIFA World Cup soccer in South Africa.

The success or otherwise of these innovations will undoubtedly be examined with microscopic intensity by the FIFA 2010 Word Cup Organising Committee.

Source: www.iol.co.za / 28 June 2006

More about the World Cup Soccer 2010:
Host cities & stadiums World Cup 2010 approved by FIFA
World Cup 2010 Ticket Fund: Coca-Cola & FIFA join hands
South Africa hosts second World Cup Soccer

More Soccer events in South Africa
United game a pointer for FIFA 2010

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