Ramatsiyi Moholoa

Ramatsiyi Moholoa

Hyundai Automotive South Africa has pledged to make 3500 World Cup tickets available to young soccer players whose clubs are affiliated to Safa Soweto, through the Fifa ticketing programme.

Stanley Anderson of the car manufacturer said: "The Fifa Ticket Fund programme is an initiative through which tickets will be awarded to children who would not have the opportunity to attend a World Cup match under normal circumstances.

"This is the first time in the history of the Fifa World Cup that such a programme will be rolled out."

Anderson said they will host competitions in various parts of Soweto with World Cup tickets as prizes.

"We have also set aside tickets for a handicapped school."

The car manufacturer sponsors Safa Soweto and has acquired the naming rights to their stadium in Klipspruit after a donation of R500000.

This helped with the replanting and reseeding of the grass on the four pitches, the purchase of new furniture for the office and painting of perimeter walls, with further improvements planned.

Phil Mogodi, Safa Soweto chief executive, said as part of their partnership with Anderson's company, they will also be bringing the 2010 five-a-side World Cup to South Africa.

"It is great that Sowetans will also benefit fully from the 2010 Fifa World Cup."