Audio By Carbonatix
South Africa is the first country to publicly express interest in hosting one of this season's African club competition finals.
South Africa's Football Association acting chief executive Gay Mokoena says they have approached several municipal authorities to see whether they would be interested in hosting either the Champions League final on 29 May or the Confederation Cup final on 24 May.
Mokoena told local reporters that they would put a bid together if one of the country's cities was interested, although they have only two days left to do so.
Last week, the Confederation of African Football (Caf) opened the bidding process for the two finals. A letter to all national associations said the bidding documents were due by 20 February.
Details must include training facilities to be made available, accommodation plans and a government guarantee.
Caf are expecting the hosts to pick up the costs around the games.
Anaylsis by Mark Gleeson, African football journalist
This is the first time that the two finals would be hosted as a single match after decades of being played home and away over two legs. It was a surprise decision made by Caf president Ahmad and his executive committee last year without regard to historical precedent, ironically first displayed in Johannesburg just over a quarter-century ago. Caf hosted both the African Super Cup in 1994 and 1995 on neutral turf but very quickly abandoned the idea after both games were marred by public disinterest. The 1994 Super Cup pitted Egyptian giants Al Ahly and Zamalek at Soccer City in Johannesburg. It is a fixture that easily fills the 60 000-capacity Cairo International Stadium but there were barely 1 000 supporters at the cavernous South African stadium, leaving Egyptians astonished and aghast. The next year in Alexandria, when Tunisia's Esperance beat Daring Club Motema Pembe of the then Zaire, it was again characterised by swath of empty seats. After this, the Super Cup was always played at the home ground of the winner of the Champions League until last year when it was moved to Qatar. There is already a long standing apathy towards African club competitions from South African fans, who rarely turn out to watch their local clubs compete in the two annual competitions. South African stadiums were largely empty, expect when the home team played, when the country hosted both the 1996 and 2013 Africa Cup of Nations finals.DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
MiDA CEO pays courtesy call on Gender Minister to deepen collaboration
4 minutes -
Open Kasoa–Winneba middle carriageway in 3–4 weeks – Mahama directs contractor
10 minutes -
Akosombo Substation Fire: Energy Ministry assures swift response and public safety
11 minutes -
Food insecurity 10 times higher among uneducated households — GSS
26 minutes -
1 in 5 households spend over 75% of income on food as cost pressures mount — GSS
39 minutes -
South Africa expresses regret, promises probe into xenophobic attack on Ghanaians – Ablakwa
50 minutes -
EU backs Ghana’s poultry scheme with 150,000 birds for 3,000 farmers
1 hour -
Pressure by CSOs on Mahama over OSP case constitutes ‘emotional blackmail’ – Dafeamekpor
1 hour -
Ghana summons South African envoy over reported xenophobic attacks
1 hour -
Philanthropist, Akonta Felix Akakpo promises 300-second cycle scholarships in Ketu South Municipality
1 hour -
Banker in court for allegedly stealing GH¢12m, blowing GH¢600K on online betting
1 hour -
EOCO affidavit clarifies that Gabriel Tanko Atokple was not declared “wanted”
2 hours -
Fire outbreak at Akosombo Substation disrupts power supply – GRIDCo
2 hours -
Bank of Ghana fails to publish 2025 financial statements in violation of BoG Act
2 hours -
CEOs must act boldly as Ghana faces a defining economic moment – McDan
2 hours