Early global 2010 World Cup ticket applications are strong but South African hosts have been slow in securing seats to the curtain-raiser Confederations Cup, organisers said Tuesday.
More than 506,000 worldwide online applications for World Cup tickets had been made since ticket applications opened on February 20.
The tremendous response is extremely exciting and gives us a great deal of confidence, said Irvin Khoza, chairman of the local organising committee.
It is now even more important for us to ensure that the Confederations Cup will be a success, he said.
Only 170,000 of the 646,000 available tickets for the Confederations Cup, traditionally seen as a curtain-raiser to the world s top football event, have been sold ahead of the eight nation tournament s kick-off on June 14.
The Confederations Cup is a important appetiser for the World Cup, the rate at which South Africans are buying tickes is very slow, said Khoza.
We encourage South Africans to go and apply for tickets now, Khoza told reporters. South Africans must ensure that they fill the stadium so that they are given a test before the World Cup, he added.
FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke raised concern about the absence of the visible promotion for the events, including the showpiece World Cup which will be hosted on African soil for the first time.
There isn t even a single promotion of the events, even when you arrive at the airport.
What I have seen are promotional signs from corporate companies who are part of the event, said Valcke.
In September last year, FIFA president Sepp Blatter urged South Africa to market itself more enthusiastically for the two tournaments.
Confederation Cup matches involving Italy, Spain, the United States, Brazil, Iraq, New Zealand, Egypt and South Africa will be staged in the cities of Johannesburg, Pretoria, Bloemfontein and Rustenburg.
