Gauteng govt seeks public support for 2013 Afcon JHB matches

The match will be played in Johannesburg on Thursday, November 14, at a venue still to be announced. The two teams met before -in the inaugural Nelson Mandela Challenge match in 1994, with Bafana Bafana winning 2-1.

The Gauteng government is hosting this year's game after the South African Football Association (Safa) leadership approached it for financial assistance. "Safa approached us to stage the game in Gauteng and we agreed," said sport, arts, culture and recreation MEC Lebogang Maile. He added that he hoped for a full house "in honour of Tata (Mandela)." The Gauteng government plans to use the game against Zambia as part of its campaign to mobilise support for Bafana Bafana and the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations matches. Gauteng will host the opening and closing ceremonies.

"We are planning a number of activation campaigns aimed at encouraging Gauteng communities to rally behind Bafana Bafana and the 2013 Afcon," Maile said. There will also be public viewing areas, so people will be able to watch the games on big screens, The Sowetan Online website reports.

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