My city, my World Cup: Ticket winner

Joyce Mahlangu (54) queued outside the Fifa ticketing centre at Maponya Mall in Soweto on Monday morning, waiting to have premier Soccer World Cup tickets of her choice bought for her by her employer, Crossroads Distribution.

Mahlangu, from Diepkloof Zone Four, works at SkyNet, a division of Crossroads Distribution, as a data capturer, and has been working there for the last 20 years.

She entered the company’s Soccer World Cup ticket raffle competition earlier this month and won.

According to Khethiwe Radebe from Crossroads Distribution, “The industry had a very difficult year and bonuses were half bonuses, so we decided to have a random draw to increase staff morale.”

As one of the 10 winners, Mahlangu was bought two tickets for the Nigeria versus Argentina game, which will be played on Saturday.

Mahlangu said she would take her husband with her.

The couple will watch the afternoon game from lounge seats at Ellis Park while sipping on complimentary beverages.

Mahlangu said she would have preferred to watch a Bafana Bafana game, but all the tickets were already sold out.

The Mail & Guardian asked her a few questions:

Were you planning to watch a premier match before you knew you had won?
No. If I wasn’t a raffle winner I wouldn’t have been able to buy the tickets.

Why not?
The tickets are expensive, They cost more than R1 000 each.

When did you find out you had won tickets?
I found out on Friday .

So how do you feel?
I am very excited. I am going to get my husband and I cheap Bafana Bafana tops so we can wear it with our jeans. My husband has jeans, I still need to buy some.

Which team will you be supporting in the game?
I will be supporting Nigeria because they are an African team.

Who is your favourite player?
Itumeleng Khune. He is a good goal keeper.

How do you feel about South Africa hosting the Soccer World Cup?
It’s a big thing for us. I am very excited and I have been showing my support for Bafana Bafana by blowing my vuvuzela.