Bafana and Boks team up

[kay Dee]

BAFANA BAFANA and the springboks will feature in an historic double header in july to honour former President Nelson Mandela's 95th birthday.The double header,the first ever to feature our soccer and rugby national team playing at the same day and at the same venue,with Bafana against Spain and Boks against Argentina.

 

[Redeemed]

Nice one. Will rugby be the curtain raiser?

 

[Azbubu]

So is the ticket for both or would you have to buy them separately? Probably the latter.

 

[cr@zydude]

It would have to 1 ticket, if it's a true double header, 2 matches on the same day. Hopefully the rugby is 2nd, or the field will be a mess.

Is there a source?

 

[Mr G]

heard they were trying to get Spain as the soccer opponents, but due to the confederations cup that might not happen

 

[kay Dee]

Boks and Bafana Team up

There is going to be one ticket for both matches.

 

[cr@zydude]

Looks like Kay Dee was right:

The South African Rugby Union (SARU) confirmed on Friday that they had received a request from Government to play The Castle Rugby Championship test against Argentina at FNB Soccer City to honour Nelson Mandela in a double-header event with the South African Football Association.

The Test was originally scheduled to be played at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein. SARU discussed the matter with the hosting union, the Toyota Free State Cheetahs, who agreed in principle to waiving their rights to the Test to allow a possible change in venue. One of the conditions related to a future Test match allocation to the Free State union as compensation for their stakeholders missing out in 2013.

SARU is engaging with the Department of Sport and Recreation on the concept to ensure that all contractual obligations to broadcasters, sponsors and other stakeholders are honoured and that all logistical concerns are addressed in the event of the occasion going ahead at FNB Soccer City.

SARU has advised SANZAR, Argentina and key stakeholders of the on-going status of the discussions.

SARU has committed the Springboks to honouring the Nelson Mandela Sports Day and is awaiting the Department’s response to the contractual discussions. A switch in venue will be confirmed once those issues have been satisfactorily addressed.

Rugby 365

This still leaves a problem for SAFA. The only international date in August is the 14th. It is only a friendly date, thus SAFA only has the players for the 12th, 13th and 14th, and then they need to go back to their clubs. The only option I see is if SAFA get an agreement from the PSL, and use only local players. There is still the problem of getting an opponent to play on a non-fifa date. That Saturday will also be during the PSL season, as it starts on the second weekend of August, and is preceded by the MTN 8.

 

[cr@zydude]

Nigeria will be Bafana's opponent:

South African sports fans will have the unprecedented treat of seeing Bafana Bafana and the Springboks in action on the same day at the same venue at this year's Nelson Mandela Sports Day.

The double header will be held at the FNB Stadium on August 17. Sports Minister, Fikile Mbalula, has given details of what he says will be the biggest celebration ever in honour of Madiba.

“The Springboks will play Argentina and Bafana Bafana will play against Nigeria and then we will have Italy legends v South Africa legends. That’s at the beginning and thereafter a concert.”

SABC

The match isn't in SA or Nigeria's fixtures on FIFA.com or SAFA's fixtures, and I can't seem to find the fixtures on the NFF website.

 

[cr@zydude]

It's finally all sorted out:

Cape Town - South Africa's national football and rugby teams will play on the same day at the former World Cup showpiece stadium in Soweto to honor Nelson Mandela, bringing together the country's two most popular sports that once portrayed its racial divisions.

The South African sports ministry said Tuesday that the Nelson Mandela Sports Day on August 17 at FNB Stadium - formerly Soccer City - was aimed at uniting the country and the world "in celebration and promotion" of the anti-apartheid leader's legacy.

Sport24

Bafana will play Burkina Faso, and the Springboks will play Argentina. There will also be an SA legends vs Italian legends football match, and a concert.