North West fully backs AFCON

Johannesburg - North West will support the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) soccer matches at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Phokeng, premier Thandi Modise said on Wednesday.

"We will not shy from our responsibility to ensure that Rustenburg local municipality is given all the support it needs for a successful hosting of the tournament, as we have done during the 2009 Confederation Cup and the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup," she said in a statement.

"We have the infrastructure and the experience to host the matches, we will spare no effort to make South Africa proud hosts of the tournament in a safe and secure environment in our province; the hospitality of our people is our greatest advantage."

Modise welcomed the R5m the Royal Bafokeng Administration had committed for two additional dressing rooms and a referee’s dressing room.

She said the province would also commit resources and ensure that a technical team including all roleplayers received all the support it needed.