Cape town - Cape Town football fans are in for a real treat. City of Cape Town bosses have revealed that they are in negotiations with a number of “top European teams” to come and play at Cape Town Stadium.
Manchester United are set to return in 2014. But Liverpool, who have an equally massive support base here in the city, could be making their way here soon too.
In recent years, United and Tottenham Hotspur have played in the Cape, the Red Devils in fact drew 1-1 with Ajax Cape Town at Cape Town Stadium on July 21.
And late this month, City bosses led by Anton Groenewald and Grant Pascoe are headed on a trip overseas to secure the English giants, as well as hold discussions with Italian and Spanish teams who have shown interest in travelling here.
Groenewald - the Executive Director for Tourism, Events and Marketing - reveals: “Based on the 2012 performance, we are in discussions with both the marketing and commercial managers of Manchester United.
“I think the deal clincher for them was the fact that 12 000 people came to watch them train for 45 minutes.
“Based on that, myself and Pascoe will be going over to finalise the 2014 deal.
“We are in discussions around 2013/14/15 with a whole host of top clubs and we are pushing for two teams to visit for the seasonal break.
“But we are also in discussions with some of the European-based clubs.
“I think the United example has certainly drawn quite a lot of interest.”
Pascoe adds: “We have to keep the stadium pumping, we have to keep it busy, we have to ensure there’s activity.
“There’s a concert here [Linkin Park] but this stadium was built for football, we must to ensure we provide enough games here.”
The duo were speaking at a briefing to announce Bafana Bafana’s return to Cape Town for a friendly against Norway on January 8 next year.
It will be only the third time the national team plays in the city since 2007.
Daily Voice