By Nangamso Mabindla
22 January 2007

Buffalo City has started counting down to the arrival of Scandinavian team Gefle IF.

The Swedish Premier League squad takes on Premier Soccer League high-flyers Bloemfontein Celtic in a friendly at the Absa Stadium in East London on Wednesday, 7 February.

Gefle arrives for their first pre-season training camp in South Africa on Monday, 29 January.

The municipality invited the club as a way of strengthening its partnership with the Swedish city of Gavle, the home of Gefle IF.

Before tackling Phunya Sele Sele, Gefle will play a warm up match against a Buffalo City Invitation team, made up primarily of Vodacom League players, at the Absa Stadium on Wednesday, 31 January, at 7pm.

Gefle will also hold coaching clinics for 100 youngsters, aged between 12 and 14, at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane on 1 February.

Buffalo City's project manager for the 2010 Fifa World Cup, Vuyo Zambodla said that the encounter on 7 February gives the city a chance to get back on the local soccer map.

"With the unfortunate demise of Bush Bucks in 2006, this is a wonderful opportunity for the Buffalo City municipality to begin 2007 by demonstrating to soccer lovers in the Eastern Cape and South Africa that we fully intend to remain on the map of both domestic and international soccer till 2010 and beyond," he said.

Zambodla added it was important for the City to test its readiness continuously for the biggest sporting Africa has ever hosted.

"As the municipality begins to lobby various international soccer powers, including Sweden, to consider it for World Cup training and preparation, it is imperative that we are continuously testing and improving on our preparedness in this regard," he added.

Turning to the benefits of the game for the two teams Zambodla said that Celtic was currently South Africa's most talked about team in the PSL, with arguably the fastest growing support base in the country.

For the Swedes, with an average age of 24, the game would be a good opportunity to unleash some of the best talent the country has on offer.

"The match against the Swedes will give Celtic an opportunity to showcase their current great form in the Eastern Cape, as they prepare to push for honours in the Castle Premiership."