23 November 2012
Football fans in Soweto and surrounding areas will get an opportunity on Saturday to see and be photographed with the biggest prize in African football – the Africa Cup of Nations trophy.
The Afcon trophy will be at Jabulani Mall, Soweto from 11am until 3pm on Saturday, along with Bafana Bafana legends Neil Tovey and Brian Baloyi. The soccer greats will be on hand to chat to supporters and relay their stories of having played in the continental showpiece.
The Afcon trophy is currently touring the country to drum up excitement ahead of the tournament in January. It has already concluded stops in Durban and Port Elizabeth.
The final stop of the trophy tour will be at Riverside Mall in Nelspruit on Saturday, 8 December from 11am until 3pm.
Former Bafana goalkeeper Baloyi said he was excited to witness so many people who came out in numbers to see the trophy in Port Elizabeth last Saturday.
“You could really feel the buzz of excitement about the upcoming Orange Africa Cup of Nations, and Standard Bank should be congratulated for staging this tour to help get people excited about the event.”
Baloyi said it will be crucial for Bafana Bafana to get off to a good start against Cape Verde in the tournament opener on 19 January. “If they can win their first match, there is every good chance that we will see them again at Soccer City [FNB Stadium] at the finals.
“I am sure the stadium will be packed for the opening games and that will create a special atmosphere and give the players the boost they need to perform,” Baloyi added said.
FNB Stadium in Johannesburg will host a double-header on 19 January, the opening day of the Afcon, as Bafana Bafana take on Afcon debutantes Cape Verde and Angola lock horns with Morocco.
The tournament will then move to other host cities – Rustenburg, Nelspruit, Port Elizabeth and Durban – before returning to FNB Stadium for the final on Sunday, 10 February, when a new champion of Africa will be crowned.
Source: SANews.gov.za
