It's all systems go for the Bafana Bafana and Angola international friendly at Buffalo City Stadium on Tuesday night (kick-off 7pm).
But the national team will first clash with Guinea-Bissau at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban today, before they turn their attention to the East London game.
Yesterday, the Buffalo City Metro (BCM) was busy putting final touches to the pitch, like ensuring that the lights are sufficient for TV cameras and marking lines.
The municipality and BCM Safa also met with the security cluster to plan for the game.
“Preparations are at an advanced stage,” said BCM Safa president Prince Sibam.
He said he had no doubt that BCM and Eastern Cape residents will fill the stadium to capacity.
This will be the first time that Bafana Bafana will be playing in East London in 14 years. In 2003, the former African champions took their Cosafa Cup game against Zimbabwe to the stadium.
“People might get this opportunity again for 20 years, so we encourage people to buy tickets early to avoid disappointment. People must come out in numbers to show that we appreciate this opportunity.
“When we compare the facility that we have to others available around the country, we're fortunate to be hosting the national team because to host a national team, you need stadiums of high quality,” Sibam said.
“And we can't lie, our stadium is old. We're competing with a lot of modern stadiums because all the world cup stadiums are modern.”
Caretaker coach Owen da Gama and his charges will touch down at the East London Airport at 4.30pm tomorrow and have an open training session at Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane at 7pm.
Angola will arrive on Monday morning.
Sibam called on soccer fans to welcome the national team in numbers at the airport.
“We would like to urge people to go and welcome the national team at the airport to show them that we support them and watch them train at Sisa Dukashe Stadium as this will be an open session,” he said.
Tickets are on sale for R60 at Computicket, Checkers and Shoprite Checkers.