High demand for World Cup tickets in Botswana

MQONDISI DUBE
Staff Writer | Wednesday April 28, 2010 00:00

BFA public relations and marketing officer, Phakamile Kraai said the initial allocation of 290 tickets is selling fast, prompting the association to request for an additional 500. Although he could not give specific details, Kraai said there are only a few tickets left from the initial 290.

'People are calling as we speak and I am still reconciling the figures to see how many tickets are left,' he said.However, there is no assurance that the BFA will get the additional tickets as demand in the host country, South Africa, is astronomical.

At least 100,000 tickets were sold over the counter in just 48 hours in South Africa when the final phase of ticket sales opened on April 15.

Police had to be called in to quell disturbances as South African fans scrambled for tickets on the opening day of the fourth and final phase of ticket sales. The World Cup will be held from June 11 to July 11.

In January, BFA  indicated that it will buy at least 250 tickets allocated to the national association under a FIFA arrangement.

FIFA allocated each national association a certain number of tickets, and BFA president David Fani said they will take up their share, which however does not meet the high demand locally.

After the third phase of ticket sales closed in February, Botswana was leading in applications in Africa, outside South Africa.

At least 2,519 Batswana had applied for the tickets after phase three.