Tanzanian capital gears up for Brazil friendly
By DPA, IANSMonday, June 7, 2010
NAIROBI/DAR ES SALAAM - Tanzania’s capital Dar es Salaam is expected to be engulfed in football fever Monday as Brazil take on the East African nation in their last warm-up match before the football World Cup begins in South Africa.
Fans besieged ticketing points over the weekend, according to local media, despite the relatively high price of briefs, which at 30,000 shillings ($21) for the cheapest are too expensive for most locals.
However, companies and football clubs have purchased tickets to hand out to fans, and a full house is expected at the 60,000-seat Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium.
As in Zimbabwe last Wednesday - where Brazil won 3-0 in a friendly - there has been controversy over the cost of bringing the Brazilians in to play.
The Tanzanian Football Federation has declined to reveal how much it paid, only saying that the high ticket prices reflected the fee paid to the Brazilians.
The match against the Tanzanian minnows is expected to be a breeze for the Brazilians, who kick off their search for a sixth World Cup against North Korea in Johannesburg, July 15.
Brazil also face Portugal and Ivory Coast in Group G.
