Today saw hundreds of soccer fans patiently waiting in long queues at FIFA ticketing centres - trying to get some of the last 2010 tickets available.

Apparently some soccer enthusiasts at the Sandton centre had already been queuing from last night. Others joined them early this morning.

The atmosphere is electric with excitement. Fans are dressed in their Bafana Bafana kit, blowing vuvuzelas and discussing all things soccer.

Apparently, some 500 000 of these last-minute tickets have been made available by FIFA. (All of the 63 matches have some tickets available). These can be got on a first come, first served basis at these ticketing offices.

Eleven ticketing branches will be open from 09h00 - 18h00, 7 days a week. Five different sales channels will be operational.

Polokwane - Lifestyle Mall
Cape Town - Spearhead
Durban - Sun Coast Casino
- Gateway Shopping Centre
Johannesburg - Maponya Mall in Soweto
- Laico Isle in Sandton
Bloemfontein - Loch Logan Waterfront Mall
Port Elizabeth - Moffet on Main Lifestyle Centre
Nelspruit - The Groove Shopping Centre
Rustenburg - Waterfall Mall
Pretoria - Brooklyn Mall

Tickets can be bought at any of these centres with cash, credit or debit cards - either over-the-counter or from user-friendly, automatic vending machines.

Tickets can also be purchased at any FNB branch countrywide (600 branches nationally). Fans can order tickets, pay for them and get confirmation. The actual tickets then need to be collected at any FIFA ticketing centres or Shoprite/Checkers sales points.

18 Shoprite/Checkers sales points will also be open 7 days a week from 9am on April 19 :

Johannesburg :
Checkers Hyper - Sandton
Checkers Hyper - Westgate
Checkers Hyper – Eastgate

Pretoria :
Checkers Hyper - Menlyn

Durban :
Checkers Hyper - Westville
Checkers - Hillcrest
Shoprite – Chatsworth

Cape Town :
Checkers - Century City
Checkers – Plumstead

Bloemfontein :
Checkers - Langehovenpark
Shoprite - Heidedal

Port Elizabeth :
Shoprite - Redhouse
Shoprite - Newton Park

Rustenburg :
Shoprite - Mogwase
Shoprite – Brits

Polokwane :
Shoprite – Tzaneen

Nelspruit :
Shoprite - Nelspruit
Shoprite - White River.

Fans will need to bring a form of ID, a credit card or cash when applying at the ticketing centres.

Of course, tickets can also be got online through FIFA's official website, www.FIFA.com, or by calling the Call Centre Hotline on 083 123 2010 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              083 123 2010      end_of_the_skype_highlighting (for South African residents) and 0041445832010 for international residents.

Courtesy: BuaNews www.buanews.gov.za