Top South African artists set to open soccer event

The 2014 African Nations Championship (CHAN) is set to be hosted in Cape Town from tomorrow to February1, 2014, and volunteers from all over the city are gearing up to ensure that the tournament runs seamlessly.In preparation, the 600-plus volunteers are undergoing extensive tournament-specific training from the CHAN Local Organising Committee (LOC) to equip them with all of the necessary skills and information they will require to fulfill their responsibilities.This skills-transfer initiative will enhance the volunteers’ employability and ensure continued job creation.“The CHAN 2014 volunteers will serve as the public face of the tournament, showcasing the colourful eclecticism for which the Mother City is so renowned.“These proudly South African football fanatics have pledged their time purely for the love of the game and their city,” said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Tourism, Events and Marketing, Councillor Grant Pascoe.The aim of the volunteer programme is to bring people from all walks of life together to lend a helping hand in staging this significant event - the first major soccer tournament in Cape Town since the 2010 FIFA World Cup.With their new skills, volunteers will be able to provide a quality service to the Confederation of African Football and the LOC during the tournament.As host City, Cape Town will serve as tournament headquarters and Bafana Bafana’s home base, in addition to hosting 16 of the championship’s 32 matches and staging the opening and closing ceremonies. The tournament’s remaining matches will take place in Polokwane and Mangaung.