The South African Football Association (SAFA) will host the Mandela Challenge match between Bafana Bafana and Nigeria on 14 August and the Brazil 2014 World Cup Qualifier match with the Botswana national team on 7 September.
Mayor James Nxumalo welcomed the decision to host the Bafana Bafana matches. “Our City is growing and it is becoming a popular tourist attraction. We are happy to host the Bafana Bafana soccer matches now and in the future. This is another confirmation that Durban is South Africa’s playground,” he said.
City manager, Sibusiso Sithole, said hosting of big soccer matches have proven successful in the past and has benefited the City’s economy. “It is a sign that the soccer organisation has confidence in eThekwini to host such big games and in mobilising support for Bafana Bafana,” he said.
At present, the budget for the two matches has been estimated to an amount of R 5-million, with R1.5-million budgeted for the first match and R3.5-million set aside for the Botswana qualifier. Sithole said the city was to communicate with the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation, on financial assistance.
