The tickets for the King’s Super Cup, to be held in Swaziland, will go on sale in South Africa on Tuesday, July 14. The tickets can be bought at Computicket. Kaizer Chiefs face Mbabane Swallows in the semifinals at 9am on Saturday, 18 July, followed by the match between Orlando Pirates and Swazi league champions Royal Leopards at 11am.

For the Swazi’s this tournament will be like Barcelona and Real Madrid coming to South Africa.

“This tournament will strengthen the relationship between South African and Swaziland,” says David Ngcamphalala, Swaziland’s Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs. He is a former defender and captain of Royal Leopards, before becoming the club’s chairman.

“During the apartheid era, many South Africans sought refuge and lived in Swaziland. King Mswati III wants to revive this relationship.”

“We are looking at the development of soccer in South Africa,” continues Ngcamphalala. “We can learn from our neighbours in this regard. It is good that South Africa and Swaziland have strong and competitive teams competing on the African continent. Royal Leopards recently beat Bidvest Wits in the CAF Confederations Cup. The national teams face each other regularly. Our progress in football on the African continent is connected, as we are both from Southern Africa. It’s time we start challenging clubs and countries from North and West Africa.”

On Thursday evening, 16 July, a fundraising dinner will be held. Money raised will be used to help develop various sports codes in Swaziland, including soccer.

“We are very excited about Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates playing in the King’s Super Cup,” adds the Minister, “especially as 90 percent of the Swazis support one of these two teams. The tournament will boost tourism to our country. It will also show that South Africans are not xenophobic.”

“We expect that the King’s Super Cup will not be a once off tournament, but will be held annually,” concludes Ngcamphalala.

Interestingly, one of the Sports Minister’s coaches during his football days at Royal Leopards was Ted Dumitru, who later on coached Chiefs for several years, winning a variety of trophies in the process.

The final of the King’s Super Cup will take place at 15:00.

The games will be played at the Somhlolo National Stadium in Lobamba, which is between Mbabane and Manzini.

The cost of the tickets will be R250 (ordinary) and R500 (VIP).