Shilowa called on supporters to avoid the last minute rush by ensuring they bought their tickets well before the games begin for the finals of the Vodacom Challenge Cup at the FNB Soccer City Stadium this weekend.

Representing the home of champions, as Gauteng is affectionately known, in an effort to retain the Kudu Horn in the country is Premier Soccer League, Champions Kaizer Chiefs, who will be pitting their skills against ASV Club of Democratic Republic of Congo in the final. Orlando Pirates will fight for third spot against TP Mazembe (DRC) in the first match. The third place play-off is scheduled to kick-off at 12:30pm.

Chiefs proceed to the finals after crushing Mazembe 8-9 on penalties at the Mmabatho Stadium in Mafikeng last weekend. Pirates went down 4-3 in sudden death penalty shoot-out after both teams were drew 2-2 at full time.

Shilowa, accompanied by players from both Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs handed out gifts to kids at the Tembisa Hospital in Ekhuruleni on Tuesday. Shilowa said the visit was part of the teams' social responsibility "in supporting healthy lifestyles and motivating patients to say they still remain true South Africans despite their illnesses".

Pirates' newly appointed public relations officer, Mickey Modisane, apologised to the premier and the people of the province for the team's failure to qualify for the final of the Cup, but promised that they will win the third prize of the competition. Chiefs' Putco Mafani said the visit was a gesture that sports could bring unity "and sends (a) strong statement to the entire football fraternity to say let us reach out to all our people as we are all affected by disease - including HIV and Aids".

"This also affords players an opportunity to gain knowledge about playing safe and also seeing the impact that they make in the lives of others," Mafani said.

Tembisa Hospital is one of the seven hospitals in Gauteng in the current financial year to begin the roll-out of the government's comprehensive HIV and Aids programme.