Make sure you are ready for the match of the year

MBOMBELA – The Springboks are due to arrive at Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport on Sunday 14:45 and you are invited to welcome our boys back in the Lowveld.

For those of you that don’t know yet – the Boks will take on Wales at Mbombela Stadium on Saturday June 21 at 15:00. This will be a big test for the South African coach, Heyneke Meyer and his team, as the Dragons are a settled team after playing together during the Six Nations.

The stadium is home to the Currie Cup Premier Division Championships and the Steval Pumas, and the atmosphere has been rated the best in South Africa. A few big soccer matches have also taken place where legends such as Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates were welcomed.

The main features of the stadium are the 18 orange giraffe columns that support the roof structure and the black and white zebra-skin patterned seating. It has a capacity of 43 500 spectators and by Monday, more than 25 000 tickets had been sold. Last year Mbombela hosted the first double-feature test matches of Samoa vs Italy and the Springboks vs Scotland. The Green and Gold beat their opponents 30-17.

• Food and beverages

These will be available at the stadium and no food or beverages will be permitted past the turnstile entrances and the SAB Beer Garden area.

Private drinks and picnic baskets are welcome outside the turnstile entrances and only gas braaiers will be permitted (no charcoal or wood braais).

• If you are a non-spectator please take note:

Due to the influx of visitors and spectators there will be an impact on non-spectators as well. Road closures will take effect when the variable messaging signs indicate the following: match in progress, public parking closed, use park-and-ride.

The N4-X (also known as Samora Machell Drive West) between I’langa Mall and the N4 split west of Hall’s Gateway, will not be closed but due to stadium traffic the general public is advised to avoid this section and to use alternative routes to get to the west of the city. This also applies to the P166 between Mataffin and Riverside which will be reserved for shuttle buses only. As bus lanes will be in operation along the R40 and R37, delays will be experienced and the public is urged to avoid the R37 (Mashishing Road) and the R40 in Riverside, and consider the use of alternative routes out of the city.

Towards White River the KMIA Road (R538) and towards Gauteng the Kaapsehoop Road (via Ngodwana) can be used as alternatives.

• Park-and-ride

Disabled parking, with the supporting documentation, is available for the test match. Private bus parking (28-seater and above) is available at R250 per ticket. Parking for general vehicles is available at R100 for the outlining areas of the stadium grounds, scout-hall fields and the Hall’s A and B parking areas. All vehicles entering the precinct will require a parking ticket. These facilities are recommenced and the park-and-ride tickets are available from Computicket.

Park-and-ride areas – Nelspruit Showground, Valencia soccer field, government complex (Riverside) and Hoërskool Nelspruit.

Tickets are available at Computicket (Kruger Lowveld Chamber of Business and Tourism, Crossing) and the stadium from R200 to R400.