NAIROBI, Kenya, May 24- Counterfeiters have been put on notice as Football Kenya Federation (FKF) prepares to pioneer electronic ticket billing during the 2014 World Cup qualifier between Harambee Stars and Malawi on June 2.
The tickets that go on sale from Friday to match day at various outlets of the commissioned firm, KAPS Ticketing Company have been designed to deter unauthorized duplication as the federation seeks to avoid leaking revenue due to production of bogus receipts.
“These tickets have specific codes that are in the system, besides that, the exact number for each sitting section is known, so the fear of fake ones is unfounded.
“Consequently we will be on the lookout and will take strict action against anyone who will come to the stadium with phony tickets or gain re-entry with one that has already passed through the system at the entrance,” FKF Development Officer, Elly Mukwole, affirmed at a media briefing on Thursday.
He added: “Fans will be expected to enter details of their email address and phone number that will be used for verification purposes on match day.”
KAPS Operations Manager, Alex Karumba, said 50,000 tickets will be available for purchase between 8am and 5pm daily but will close at noon on the match day.
He listed the outlets where they can be purchased as their Lifestyle, Junction Mall, Capital Centre, Sarit Centre, Valley arcade, Nyayo Stadium and Kasarani branches in Nairobi with some being provided in their outlets in Mombasa and Kisumu.
“There will be no sale of the tickets on match day at Kasarani,” Karumba clarified.
Online sale of the tickets will be peddled through the website, www.kapstickets.com, where fans will be required to make payment through credit card or Airtel Money mobile cash transfer service.
“There will be also be a portal link in the FKF, Sports Stadia Management Board and Airtel Kenya websites. Once fans have chosen their category based on prices or seating arrangement and confirmed payment, the ticket will be delivered either by email or on your phone,” the ticketing official further outlined.
Fans in the Upper Terrace will pay Sh300 while Middle Terrace seating will cost Sh1, 000. The VIP will go at Sh2, 000 while a new VVIP section retailing for Sh3, 000.
At the same time, Mukolwe assured supporters that security arrangements for the match that will be played at the 60,000-seater Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani were complete.
“Fans from all walks of life are free to come cheer as we aim for a convincing win in our World Cup campaign, since Police presence will be guaranteed even in the large reserved parking section,
“They will be directed accordingly by the National Youth Service stewards in the stadium in regard to the sitting, since ticket pricing is based on the different sections in the newly refurbished stadium,” he added.
After the Malawi fixture, Kenya will travel to Namibia for their second qualifier on June 9 before they taking a 2-1 advantage away to face Togo on June 15 in their second leg tie of their 2013 Africa Nations Cup knock-out qualifier.
