Thabo Johnson

The final of the Cosafa Castle Cup between Bafana Bafana and Zambia is billed for Bloemfontein on October 24 at Free State Stadium.

Sipho Nkumane, Bafana Bafana's manager, confirmed this yesterday, adding that the match will be played at night.

He said further announcements will be made on the team's return from Italy.

Obakeng Molatedi, Safa's national executive member, said the decision on the new date was made following fruitful talks between Cosafa and the associations of the two countries. The match was initially scheduled for October 27.

Molatedi said the Mangaung Local Municipality played a major role in making the final possible. by committing to bear the penalty costs of delaying construction work of revamping the stadium.

Construction at the stadium is in line with the 2010 Fifa World Cup preparations.

"We are appealing to the sporting fraternity in the province to come in numbers to the final," Molatedi said.

So far, only three international matches have been held in the Free State and Bafana Bafana won all of them.