LOCAL Organising Committee chairperson Irvin Khoza has urged South Africans to take full advantage of the historic over-the-counter sales of 2010 Fifa World Cup tickets, which start tomorrow.

LOCAL Organising Committee chairperson Irvin Khoza has urged South Africans to take full advantage of the historic over-the-counter sales of 2010 Fifa World Cup tickets, which start tomorrow.

"Our people are used to the over-the-counter system to purchase soccer match tickets, that is why we have decided to accommodate them. We want to see all the matches played in front of capacity crowds," Khoza said.

"We still have 500000 tickets available. Our people must go to the ticketing centres in their areas to buy tickets as soon as possible to avoid disappointment because the demand is high.

"It will also mark the fifth and final ticketing sales phase and we urge our people to contribute to the success of the first-ever World Cup on African soil by buying all the tickets.

"It's time to show the world that we are passionate about soccer."

Fifa is applying this system for the first time after South Africans complained that the online and bank methods were too complicated.

Fans worldwide have had to access the Fifa website to apply for tickets while South Africans have also had the option of buying tickets at selected branches of First National Bank.

Tickets will also be available at selected Shoprite Checkers stores.

LOC chief executive Danny Jordaan and Fifa acting director of communications and public affairs Nicolas Maingot will open the Sandton ticketing centre in Rivonia Street at 8.30am tomorrow.