THOHOYANDOU – Limpopo Province will once again be awarded another opportunity to host an official international soccer match, hardly a year after the Bafana Bafana vs Swaziland Cosafa Cup match that was played at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane middle of last year.

The African Cup of Nations return match between Bafana Bafana and Ivory Coast will be played at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in two weeks' time, on June 22. The match was originally scheduled for the Free State but had to be moved to Limpopo because of an important rugby match that has been billed for the Bloemfontein venue a day before this fixture.

The SAFA director of the national team, Mr Barney Kujane, revealed earlier this week it was decided to take the game to the people of Limpopo, as part of SAFA's obligation to take football to the people. "We met Albert Mokoena (SAFA Chief Operations Officer), and we took a decision to stage the match in Limpopo.We are happy that our supporters in Limpopo will once more have a chance to watch the national team in action in their area. They should come in big numbers as they did when Bafana Bafana played Swaziland in a Cosafa Castle Cup match last year," said Mr Kujane.

Kujane further indicated that they had sent a team to inspect the stadium last Sunday, and were satisfied that it meets the international standards. SAFA's director of executive supports, Mr Solly Phasha, said he was impressed with the facilities he had inspected in Polokwane.

The president of the Limpopo West Regional Football Association, Mr Nakedi Lekota, commended the national controlling body for having given them another chance to host a Bafana Bafana match. He promised that they would do everything in their power to host the match successfully.