Organizers blame South Africans for poor turnout in stadiums

By Mandisi Tyulu
15 June 2009

The World Cup organisers have called for a better response from the South African public at next year’s finals after the opening day of the Confederations Cup brought disappointing crowds.

Organising Committee spokesperson Rich Mkhondo told a briefing in Johannesburg today that, "you can take a horse to water but you can’t force it to drink."

"We have emphasised many times this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Our job is to stage the event but it is up to the South African nation to attend it."

Neither of the two matches on the opening day of the Confederations Cup on Sunday managed a capacity crowd despite it being the first major footballing event of its kind on the African continent.

South Africa played against Iraq to a crowd of under 50 000 in a 61 000-capacity stadium at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.

Attendance at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg for the match between European champions Spain and New Zealand was 21 649, just over half its 42 000 capacity.

The cheapest ticket prices are R70 more than three times the price of ticket for South African league matches, he said.

Mkhondo said cutting ticket prices was not an item on any current agenda.