Football great and father-of-three Paul Okon has no doubt how he will be spending a big chunk of next summer – taking advantage of one of sport’s great bargains and taking his kids to watch AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015.
Football great and father-of-three Paul Okon has no doubt how he will be spending a big chunk of next summer – taking advantage of one of sport-s great bargains and taking his kids to watch AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015.
Venue packs, which offer big discounts to fans watching all matches in one of the five host cities of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra and Newcastle, go on sale to the football family on Wednesday, May 7, and to the general public on May 19.
Individual tickets to Asia-s biggest football tournament , which start from $5 for kids and $15 for adults, then go on sale to the football family on May 27 and to the general public on June 2.
“I have three young boys who are crazy about football,” said the former Socceroos captain and current Young Socceroos coach and Olyroos assistant coach.
“They are already asking when they can go and watch Australia.
“No doubt I will be taking them along to watch as many games as possible.
”I think $5 tickets for kids and $40 packages for families are great initiatives,” he said.
Okon expects big crowds and huge excitement from a new-look Socceroos team that could include emerging talents like Young Player of the Year Adam Taggart, fellow Newcastle Jet Josh Brillante and Dundee United defender Curtis Goode, who made his Socceroos debut recently against Ecuador.
“I see no reason why we can’t get close to the Asian Cup record crowd average of 31,000 set in China in 2004,” said Okon.
“Hopefully we can make a statement worldwide that we are not only a good footballing nation but also a country that can host a serious football tournament.”
A venue pack is the ultimate ticket for passionate fans wanting the best seats in the house for every match in one city, with a hefty saving of up to 20 per cent. It-s not too late to register for the presale.
Just go to www.afcasiancup.com to get your tickets.
Highlights for fans buying venue packs in Melbourne, include:
Melbourne will not only host the opening ceremony, which precedes Australia’s first match against Kuwait, but will provide the stage for Iran, Japan, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, who between them have won 11 of the 15 Asian Cups decided so far. Seven matches including one quarter-final, plus six star-studded group matches from $159.
The AFC Asian Cup is Asia-s biggest football competition and was established in 1956.
The 15 nations to qualify for AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015 are Australia as hosts, defending champions Japan, Korea Republic and 2012 AFC Challenge Cup winners DPR Korea, along with Bahrain, China, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan.
The last spot will go to the winner of the AFC Challenge Cup, played later this month.
The 16 finalists will take part in a 23-day festival of football in five cities which the Socceroos will kick off on January 9, 2015, in Melbourne against Kuwait, with the final set for Sydney-s Stadium Australia on January 31, 2015.
The tournament is being financially supported by the Australian Government and the NSW, Victorian, Queensland and ACT Governments.
