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 HOWZAT! Hosting Afcon matches would have cost R20m but Manchester United - the world's most popular football club - would cost less than R7m 

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That was the rationale given by the Mother City for agreeing to stage a match involving the English Premier League giants rather than any side at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations finals that will be hosted by South Africa.

Cape Town city councillor Grant Pascoe, a member of the mayoral committee, defended Cape Town's decision to reject that chance to host any of next year's Afcon matches while agreeing to host Man United.

Pascoe said staging the Afcon matches would have cost R20m but United would cost "less than R7m and still make money".

United will play AmaZulu at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on July 18 and take on Ajax Cape Town on July 21 at the Cape Town Stadium.

"We look at iconic brands, that is our strategy," said Pascoe. "Man U will probably travel with about 100 foreign media and they are going to have TV and broadcasting live even though this is a friendly. And that helps us and puts us on the map.

"And we probably got a bargain," he said. "If Durban are spending R7m, we will spend less and still make some revenue."

He hit back at Safa and the Afcon Local Organising Committee for poor communicationt.

"The questions we asked were never answered. But Manchester United chose us."

Gate takings will also add to the revenue Pascoe referred to, with tickets priced at R150 to R350.

"On the Cape Flats and across town, Man United is the most supported European team. So it is going to be very easy to fill up the stadium," he said.

Comments

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Thu May 23 21:13:17 SAST 2013 ::

Jun 14, 2012

PeloYaTonki

I will never pay R150 to R350 to watch Ajax game.

UP THE BUCS!
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Jun 14, 2012

SeshegoGuY

They must bring Chelsea__UEFA Champions League Winners. About SAFA: No Comment!
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Jun 14, 2012

Mhungumbye

Hayi maan u snub Afcon matches over Man united just to get the hard earned R150 from the poor of the poorest C in cape flats and surounding areas.
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Jun 14, 2012

tpaz

Bring Real Madrid to Loftus......I will pay R350.
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Jun 14, 2012

Stumaeza

I doubt if it is going to be very easy to fill up the stadium, it is Ajax we are talking about...the very same Ajax that can't fill up their own stadium when they play Chiefs/Pirates.

We'll see about that...Gate takings will not add to the revenue!
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Jun 14, 2012

MyPot

This man is white, u tryn to isolate Cape Town u lalandii,

Seshegomaize....u are right
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Jun 14, 2012

kolobe

fact is cape col.oureds do not afford those tickets, the stadium will be filled with da whi.te voters
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Jun 14, 2012

BRA-MAFUTHA

Cape Town is white man city dats why dey chose Man United than de African Cup of Nations.
Black man is always last in that republic of Cape Town
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Jun 14, 2012

Activeboi

Its a good thing for other clubs to get such opportunities cos chiefs & pierats r selfish. the cancelled charity cup bcos they want all the money to themselfes by hosting black label cup. talk abt selfish clubs on this country, i wont even support such useless teams
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Jun 14, 2012

Activeboi

Motaung &n Khoza have f*cked the ppl by nt playing in the telkom charity cup.Its a good thing for other clubs to get such opportunities cos chiefs & pierats r selfish. the cancelled charity cup bcos they want all the money to themselfes by hosting black label cup. talk abt selfish clubs on this country, i wont even support such useless teams. MXM
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