WITH only a few days to go before the FIFA Confederations Cup South Africa 2009™ kicks off, Joburg looks set for a good time as preparations for the event reach fever pitch.

Fans are snapping up tickets; host nation South Africa is already in camp and the other seven participating teams are ready to jet in; Ellis Park Stadium has been tested and is in pristine condition to host the opening and final match of the football tournament; and Johannesburg has all systems ready to host a successful competition.

Seen as a dress rehearsal for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, tickets for the Festival of Champions, as the football spectacular is widely known, are selling well, with over 60 percent of the 640 000 available tickets already sold.

Tickets for several matches in various categories are sold out with Match 11 - Brazil vs Italy - sold out in all categories. Tickets for the final match at Ellis Park are selling well, with all category four tickets sold out.

However, people can still apply for tickets through FNB branches, via the FIFA website http://www.fifa.com/, or they can buy them over the counter at ticketing centres in each host city.

The cheapest tickets for group matches and for the third place match are just R70 each.

Courtesy: Johannesburg News Agency: www.joburg.org.za