2010 Soccer World Cup South Africa

'SA way ahead in preparation for 2010'
December 22 2006 at 12:51PM

President Thabo Mbeki on Friday rubbished suggestions South Africa will fail to successfully stage the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup. The truth is South Africa is way ahead in preparations for hosting a successful tournament, he said in his last weekly newsletter for 2006 on the African National Congress website. Mbeki said some people, both locally and abroad, had done their best in 2006 to convince the nation it would fail to create the conditions for a successful 2010 World Cup.

"Media suggestions were floated liberally that some countries were already standing by to take over this responsibility from us, since it was certain that we would definitely fail to do the things Fifa required of us, to ensure that the 2010 Soccer World Cup would actually take place in our country.

"Most fortunately, consistently, the President of Fifa, Sepp Blatter, insisted correctly that our country was perfectly capable of hosting the World Cup, and would indeed do so, setting new benchmarks in terms of the success of this most important global sports tournament," Mbeki said.

"The truth is that with regard to 2010, we have beaten all previous records with regard to the preparations for the successful hosting of the Fifa Soccer World Cup, including the benchmarks set by the highly successful 2006 German Fifa World Cup. "This includes the financial sponsorships without which it would be impossible to hold the tournament."

The work done to prepare for 2010 represented one of the most prominent items of good news of which South Africans should be proud. Mbeki also had a word of inspiration for the national team, Bafana Bafana. "The appointment of a new coach, Carlos Alberto Parreira, is an opportunity to leave recent disappointments behind and make progress towards a successful campaign in 2010.

"History suggests that an uplifting performance by the host country is often an integral element in a successful Fifa World Cup, and we are confident that the hope of the nation, Bafana Bafana, will rise to the occasion in 2010," he said. - Sapa

What will 2007 bring for local football?
December 30 2006 at 02:51PM

Bafana Bafana

Brazilian Carlos Alberto Parreira arrives in mid-January to officially take up his post as Bafana coach. The microscope will be on him from the start, particularly given his astronomical salary of around R1,8-million per month. Only by winning the World Cup in 2010 and in the meantime creating world peace, could Parreira, frankly, justify such a ridiculous pay packet. As a start, he must qualify Bafana for the 2008 African Nations Cup finals in Ghana, with his first scheduled game in charge a qualifier in Chad in March.

Parreira, in conjunction with the South African football Association, will also be hoping to arrange a couple of high profile friendlies, with 2010 in mind.
So don't be surprised if South Africa line up against Brazil sometime this year, an exciting prospect for all.

World Cup 2010

Following on from Fifa president Sepp Blatter's call for "picks and shovels", building of the World Cup 2010 stadia is set to begin in February. The eyes of the world will be on South Africa for the whole year as preparations for 2010 begin to hit full swing. There are bound to be doubters, plenty of glib and patronising comments from Aussies about how they are 'ready' should South Africa fail. But we at The Saturday Star have faith that Irvin Khoza, Danny Jordaan et al know what they are doing. As well as stadia, expect plenty of new hotels to pop up all over the country, while locally, the building of the Gautrain continues, with angry motorists hopefully kept to a minimum.

Premier Soccer League

2007's miracle would undoubtedly be Silver Stars continuing to hold off their challengers and winning the PSL. Stars had an extraordinary end to 2006, winning the Telkom Knockout as well as topping the PSL going into the Christmas break. It was a staggering feat for a side with little money and few "star" names. With the rich kids from Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs breathing down their necks, Stars will have their work cut out to hold on to their PSL lead. Chiefs, in particular, went into the Christmas break in red hot form. Chiefs' great rivals, Orlando Pirates, are unlikely to challenge, however.

Some of their players appear more interested in off-the-field activities, while their current coaching situation, with Milutin Sredojevic as coach, and Bibey Mutombo now installed as technical director appears far more likely to cause friction than success.

African competition

Sundowns will carry South Africa's flag on the continent this year as they battle for glory in the African Champions League. It is a sad indictment of the local game that all other South African clubs who won places in Africa have turned them down. The wealthy Brazilians would possibly be one of the favourites to lift the trophy were it not for the fact that they are set to face reigning champions Al-Ahly in the third qualifying round. Al-Ahly have been the dominant team in Africa for the past two seasons - many of their team were also part of the Egyptian side that won the 2006 African Cup of Nations. The Cairo side are probably not exactly enamoured at the prospect of facing Sundowns so early in the competition, but will be heavy favourites to proceed to the group stages.

Stars of 2007

Which players will light up South African football in 2007? Bafana Bafana certainly need someone. Steven Pienaar is struggling in Germany this season, but some decent performances for Bafana could yet lift his season. Benni McCarthy will hope to continue banging in the goals for Blackburn, but will he honour Bafana Bafana with his presence? Frankly, who knows, and many would say, who cares? The country is in desperate need of some new stars to emerge to give us faith that we can compete with the best in 2010. Siyabonga Nkosi is an ebullient talent, and 2007 should be his best year yet, as he aims to cement his place in the national team.

And maybe young Matty Pattison, a South African at Newcastle United, can come in and make his mark. Unfortunately, however, the treasure troves do not exactly appear bursting at the seams.

Over to you , Mr Parreira.

This article was originally published on page 23 of The Star on December 30, 2006

Soccer fans assured of safety in 2010
December 14 2006 at 08:44AM
By Sheena Adams and Sapa

The government has told soccer fans across the world that their safety in South Africa during the 2010 World Cup was guaranteed. "We guarantee the safety and security of all the fans and teams that will be participating in the 2010 soccer event," Deputy Finance Minister Jabu Moleketi said on Wednesday.

Addressing the media in Pretoria, Moleketi said there would be 192 000 police officers in the country by 2009, and that of these, 30 000 would be attached to the soccer event. Some of the security plans unveiled during the briefing included ensuring a 24-hour presence at all hotels, places and routes to be used by soccer fans.

The government has set aside R15-billion for infrastructure development ahead of the tournament. About R8,4-billion will be used for refurbishment of stadiums. Meanwhile, Cape Town can "kiss the World Cup goodbye" - along with a R2-billion cash injection - if construction has not begun on the new stadium in Green Point come January.

This was the stern-faced warning from Irvin Khoza, chairperson of the 2010 local organising committee (LOC), at a Sandton press conference yesterday. "If the delay is even two or three weeks, they are out," Khoza said. The threat is the strongest indication yet that if the city fails to ensure that construction begins on January 25, the Mother City will not be hosting any World Cup matches.

Cape Town has already been allocated a space for a semifinal match. The problem hinges on a threat of legal action against the city by the Green Point Common Association, an organisation of residents that has objected to the stadium on the grounds that it would encroach on the last remaining green space in the city. The City of Cape Town has reacted to Khoza's warning with surprise, saying it was of the opinion that it had until April to get its house in order.

Khoza said that while the LOC acknowledged the hard work being done by the city government to deal with objections to the stadium, any delays would embarrass the country and could not be afforded. "I want to reiterate categorically that the LOC will not tolerate any delays. If there are any more delays in Cape Town, they are out," Khoza explained. LOC chief executive Danny Jordaan met with Cape Town Mayor Helen Zille and other city officials on Tuesday and said he had sensed a "real commitment" to resolving the impasse with the objectors.

An environmental impact assessment had already been completed on the site and the area had been rezoned to make way for a new stadium, he said. Western Cape MEC for Environment, Planning and Economic Development Tasneem Essop now sits with the headache of dealing with a final round of objections to the construction. Jordaan said she would have until December 22 to consider the objections and express her views.

"Also, clearly Cape Town is aware of the R2-billion we are going to give them for the stadium. If it is not going to be a venue, there is no reason to give Cape Town the R2-billion," Jordaan said. Khoza also announced yesterday that Durban had been chosen as host city for the Cup's preliminary draw next November. The six-day event will be held at the city's International Convention Centre.

He said the board had also approved the creation of the post of chief operating officer for the LOC, which would be finalised early next year.

This article was originally published on page 2 of The Star on December 14, 2006

Billions to be spent on 2010 transport Date: July 10 2006 The government has allocated R3,5-billion for public transport infrastructure in preparation for the 2010 Soccer World Cup, SABC news reported on Monday. It quoted acting Transport Director-General Jerry Makokoane as saying R700-million of the total budget had been set aside for this financial year. He said R241-million had been allocated to municipalities that would be hosting 2010 World Cup matches. Makokoane was addressing the Southern African Transport conference in Pretoria. He said the infrastructure of airports would also be upgraded to ensure efficient and safe transportation for all visitors. - Sapa

We will be ready for World Cup, says Jordaan
by Charles de Olim
Date: July 10 2006

At the end of his visit to Germany, Danny Jordaan is more confident than ever that come 2010, South Africa will be ready to host the World Cup.

Dismissing recent reports questioning South Africa's ability to organise the event at a lunch attended by African soccer ambassadors, South African businessman Patrice Motsepe and South African media before the final match of the 2006 tournament, he called the criticism unfounded and a form of "Afro-pessimism".

"There is no need to demoralise ourselves," Jordaan said. "If we want to compare ourselves with Germany, we must compare where the two countries were at the same stage," Jordaan explained. The Chief Executive of South Africa's Organising Committee then went on to list what South Africa had already achieved in contrast to the German World Cup organisers at the same period of preparation.

"Did Germany have a logo at the end of the 2002 World Cup? No, they did not. "Did Germany have their host cities confirmed at the 2002 World Cup? No, they did not. Had the top-tier of major sponsors already signed contracts or a broadcasting contract being signed? No, it had not been," Jordaan noted.

Jordaan was also keen to impress upon the financial profitability of the 2010 tournament, stating that Fifa are expecting to generate more than R22-billion in revenue for the 2010 World Cup, far more than the R12-billion produced at Germany 2006.

But amid all the positives, he noted that now, more than ever, the organising committees need to make sure that what has been learnt, must be acted upon.
"That's why our plans must be implemented according to the stipulated schedules we have set," he said.

In spite of the claims that Jordaan wished to disprove, he still welcomed media scrutiny because of the importance of the event. "We do not expect the media to be our praise singers. You must not spare us if we make a mistake, because that won't be doing anyone any favours," he added.

Patrice Motsepe also reaffirmed South African businesses' commitment to the World Cup, and to South African football in general. "South African business need to give more money - like the equivalent seen in cricket and rugby - to football," Motsepe said.

He confirmed that Jordaan and Irvin Khoza would be speaking to the business community on Wednesday, when they attend the bi-monthly meeting of Busa (Business Unity South Africa) - of which Motsepe is president - with president Thabo Mbeki.

But financial success was not the only imperative, as Jordaan noted. "It's very important that we succeed, because this will also be an opportunity for Africa to get an image make-over," said Jordaan

It was because of this, he said, that African teams must also be successful at the 2010 tournament "There needs to be more analysis and dialogue from within Africa about the game, and what strategy will be best for the African teams. We must remain in critical solidarity," explained Jordaan.

This article was originally published on page 4 of The Star on July 10, 2006
Article souce: www.iol.co.za

Soccer bigwigs say SA will be ready for 2010
Ron Derby - Media Correspondent

EVER since the curtain dropped on the 2006 Fifa World Cup in Germany, SA’s ability to host the tournament has been called into question, with reports locally and in Germany detailing cracks in SA’s plans for 2010.

Media reports from Germany, which is still basking in the glory of having hosted the tournament, have been very negative. “There’s nothing left to do but to send our own people to SA,” Hermann Selbherr, the German Football Association’s representative for Africa, was quoted as saying. In the line of fire is the chief of the South African local organising committee, Danny Jordaan, who has had to field questions on the country’s capabilities. A perplexed Jordaan says of the bad press: “I do not know if this negativity has anything to do with reality.”

He says the 2010 showpiece will be the most commercially successful World Cup since the first tournament was held 76 years ago, and adds that the event has already attracted more marketing and television attention than this year’s recently completed tournament. “People are actually taking out dollars and are investing in this event. What do they (investors) see that they (pessimists) don’t see?” Events in the country over the past year have provided pessimists with fodder, however, with the series of cuts to Cape Town’s electricity supply attracting negative publicity.

Add to that a recent report to Parliament’s communications portfolio committee revealing that SA’s 30-year-old broadcast infrastructure is not ready to cope with the needs of the World Cup. Sentech, the state-owned operator of SA’s broadcasting signal distribution network, was lashed by Parliament when it warned that the country would not be able to show the 2010 World Cup unless government pumped in more resources for infrastructure.

One of world football governing body Fifa’s demands for the country hosting the 2010 event is that it can handle high-definition transmission technology. However, the parastatal has changed its tune, saying last month that it could transmit high-definition television to the country in the next two months. Sentech CEO Sebiletso Mokone-Matabane says the spat with Parliament was all a misunderstanding. But, she says, with or without the 2010 Soccer World Cup, the company’s 30-year-old transmission infrastructure needs to be replaced.

Another concern being bandied about is whether the country’s stadiums will be ready for the event. New venues are planned for Durban, Port Elizabeth, Nelspruit and Polokwane, while FNB Soccer City, Ellis Park, Loftus Versfeld and Vodacom Park in Bloemfontein are to be refurbished. So far construction has not started, but earthworks have begun in Durban and Port Elizabeth. As confident as some of the country’s heavyweight construction firms — such as Murray & Roberts and Aveng — are about getting the stadiums ready in time, tenders for the projects have yet to go out.

FNB Stadium GM Dennis Mumble, who is a member of the South African 2010 World Cup local organising committee, says the tenders are not supposed to be out yet, as the stadiums are still in the earthworks phase. He says the tenders for the refurbishment of Soccer City should be going out by the end of next month. Jordaan says the actual construction work on stadiums should begin in December or early January. “We are comfortable that the construction deadlines will be met for the showpiece. This notion that we are behind schedule, I simply do not understand.”

Aveng CEO Carl Grim says it takes on average 18 to 30 months to complete a 40000-seater stadium. For highly complex stadiums, such as the Allianz arena in Germany, it would take much longer. Grim says the local organising committee’s progress towards its construction targets is “speeding up quite nicely at the moment and we see an indication of urgency”. SA’s poor public transport infrastructure and its dependence on a seemingly uncontrollable minibus taxi industry has also been highlighted as a cause for concern.

Again, Germany’s “exquisite” public transport infrastructure has been held aloft as an example. “One thing we have to realise is that every World Cup comes with its own unique challenges,” says Jordaan, citing the US tournament in 1994 as an example. Football games were spread across the country, from Chicago to Los Angeles, in places where rail and bus travel were not an option. “Was transportation a challenge there? Decide for yourself.”

The 2002 tournament was held between two countries across an ocean — Korea and Japan — which presented unique problems. In Gauteng, which will have the highest concentration of football stadiums, Jordaan says that Ellis Park, FNB Soccer City, and Loftus Versfeld are up to one-and-a-half hours’ travelling time apart. “It is far less than what happened in Germany.” Jordaan is adamant that the challenges the local organising committee faces in hosting the soccer showpiece will be met and the notion that the country is behind schedule is wrong.

Article source - www.businessday.co.za

2010: first local sponsor signed
Themba Gadebe and Silindiwe Dube

7 July 2006

South African bank, First National Bank (FNB) has signed on as the first local sponsor of the 2010 Football World Cup in a deal worth USD 30 million (about R216 million).

"This deal marks an important moment in our joint journey to the first FIFA World Cup on African soil," said FIFA President Sepp Blatter, who was speaking from Berlin, Germany. "The fact that FNB has joined the sponsor family of the 2010 Soccer World Cup shows how much the event is supported by the South African economy," he said, adding "we are looking forward to a successful relationship". This announcement comes ahead of the unveiling of the official emblem of the 2010 Soccer World Cup in Berlin on Friday.

Sponsorship package
Addressing the media in Johannesburg on Thursday, the bank’s Modise Mothlodi said the FNB was proud to take the role of the "official bank" of the tournament. For this reason, FNB will provide full service banking including commercial and cooperate transactional banking, foreign exchange transactions and on and off-site ATMs at various locations serving the FIFA competitions.

These competitions are the 2010 Soccer World Cup and a FIFA Confederation Cup in 2009. The support comes with a package of advertising, promotional and marketing rights for both competitions in the financial products category within South Africa.

'Rich' soccer heritage
Speaking from Berlin, FNB Chief Executive Officer Michael Jordan said the sponsorship added to the bank’s "rich" soccer heritage since 1986. He explained that the bank was the first cooperate in the country to invest in South African football when it assisted with the construction of the FNB stadium in the 80s. The bank also lashed out at recent media speculation that South Africa could lose the tournament to Australia due to "inadequate preparations".

Mothlodi emphasised that the bank was unequivocal in its support of the Local Organising Committee (LOC). FIFA reiterated this week that the tourney would be held in South Africa with the assurance of LOC chief Danny Jordaan that South Africa was ahead of schedule to host a successful soccer tournament.

Source: BuaNews

SA airports gear up for 2010
Lavinia Mahlangu - 21 July 2006

South Africa's airports have embarked on a number of multi-billion rand projects to increase their capacity and efficiency ahead of the 2010 Fifa World Cup. Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) has so far allocated R5.2-billion for infrastructure development at Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban international airports. Acsa's 10 airports currently handle more than 200 000 aircraft landings and 10 million departing passengers annually. As many as three million tourists are expected during the 2010 World Cup. As Africa's largest and busiest airport, Johannesburg International Airport (JIA) has been allocated the biggest share - R3-billion - of Acsa's infrastructure budget.

More passengers, bigger planes
Key projects at JIA include a new R1.8-billion central terminal building that is expected to be completed by 2009. The facility will be equipped with infrastructure for baggage handling for the Airbus A380 and will be connected to the Gautrain Rapid Rail Link for ease of access by rail.

The A380, officially unveiled in January last year, is currently the world's largest commercial aircraft, eclipsing the Boeing 747. The double-decker plane carries 555 passengers and is part of the fleets of Emirates, Lufthansa, Virgin Atlantic and Malaysia Airlines, among others.

Acsa is to spend R218-million on nine new aircraft stands at JIA, four of which will be able to accommodate the A380 and will be linked by dual air bridges to the new terminal. A further R512-million will be spent on an "international pier" that will allow for a substantial increase in the number of passengers boarding and disembarking through air bridges. The pier development will also provide additional passenger holding space and offer an expanded duty-free mall for international passengers. The pier will also include a bus station to serve departures to remotely parked aircraft.

Cape Town, Durban
Cape Town International Airport will get a R900-million new Central terminal building and a R100-million expansion to its existing parking bay, nearly doubling its capacity from 2 600 to 4 600 public bays. A new R160-million multi-storey parkade, capable of accommodating 2 500 vehicles, is also scheduled to be operational from early 2007.

Durban International has begun construction of its R90-million, 1 500 bay multi-storey parkade. The first phase of the parkade is expected to be available for use by the end of 2006, with full occupation from 2007. Acsa said plans were also in place to expand the existing terminal at Durban International and provide more check-in and baggage reclaim facilities.

Air transport 'key to economic growth'
Speaking at the Aviation Safety and Security Conference for Africa in Johannesburg on Wednesday, Transport Minister Jeff Radebe said the the Airlift Strategy for South Africa, currently before Parliament, aimed to improve South African airlines' international competitiveness.

The strategy, arising from an assessment of the country's aviation constraints identified by the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for SA, aims to grow the country's share of the international transport market and meet the tourism and trade sectors' requirements for cost-effective and efficient air services.

"Air transport has a growing impact on Africa's economies, generating about 470 000 direct and indirect jobs across the continent, and contributing over US$11.3-billion (R79.6-billion) to African GDP," Radebe said. "If we add air transport-dependent tourism activities, then the number of jobs increases to over 3 million and the contribution to African GDP reaches some US$55.5-billion (R391.2-billion)." In Africa, Radebe said, 40% of all jobs in the tourism sector were directly linked to air-borne tourism, compared to just four percent in the United States.

Source: BuaNews

MTN injects $65m into 2010
14 July 2006

South African cellphone company MTN is to be Africa's first-ever global sponsor of the 2010 Fifa World Cup, with the announcement of a US$65-million deal for the event over the next four years. The deal, announced in Johannesburg on Thursday, gives MTN exclusive mobile content rights for Africa and the Middle East, as well as global marketing rights for the 2010 event, which will be staged in South Africa.

As a global sponsor, MTN joins international heavyweights Coca-Cola, Visa, Adidas and Emirates at the top level of Fifa sponsorship. The second level includes MasterCard and McDonald's, which has extended its World Cup sponsorship from 2007 to 2014, a period covering the next two tournaments. Sponsors on the third level, which for 2010 will be made up of six South African companies, are known as "national supporters". First National Bank became the first national sponsor last week, with a commitment of $30-million.

"MTN is ready to bring the 2010 Fifa World Cup to the mobile phones of millions of football fans in Africa and the Middle East," MTN chief executive Phuthuma Nhleko said at the announcement. "We are passionate about football and believe that it is a significant development area as it touches the lives of everyone, everywhere you go. We are privileged to take up this global sponsorship and look forward to being part of this historic event."

Africa's leading cellphone operator
Following its recent acquisition of Investcom LLC, MTN is the leading mobile operator in Africa and the Middle East, with some 500-million people in its footprint area and more than 28-million subscribers. It operates in 21 countries, including Syria, Ghana, and Nigeria, and in August will begin operations in Iran.

The company also has a heavy investment in football sponsorship, having put its name behind the MTN CAF Champions League and the MTN African Cup of Nations. Fifa President Seph Blatter congratulated the company on the historic deal, saying Africa's time had come. "It is historical that MTN is the first African company to be a global sponsor of the Fifa World Cup and I want to commend MTN and Nhleko on this sponsorship," he said.

The 2010 tournament in South Africa is already a record earner for Fifa, with $3.1-billion in sponsorship deals secured so far for the next four years. In the period between 2003 and 2007, which included the recent tournament in Germany, Fifa earned $1.8-billion. MTN was the mobile content provider for the World Cup in Germany this year.

In his address during the hand-over ceremony in Berlin last Friday, South African President Thabo Mbeki said the 2010 Fifa World Cup South Africa would be the first event of this magnitude where the people of the world would be able to participate via their cellphones.

SouthAfrica.info reporter

Cape Town names 2010 venue
Clive Ndou - 20 July 2006

A study to determine Cape Town's most suitable venue for 2010 Fifa World Cup matches has identified Green Point Stadium as the favourite.

The study found that, given the relatively short time for construction work to be completed, Green Point was the only stadium that stood a reasonable chance of meeting Fifa's specifications. Cape Town has been nominated to host the 2010 semi-finals on condition that it provides a stadium which can accommodate at least 68 000 spectators. Releasing the study's findings on Thursday, Cape Town's director of sports and recreation, Mike Marsden, said that stadiums such as Newlands and Culemborg were found to be unsuitable.

"Green Point is the only feasible venue for a 68 000 semi-final given the time constraints," Marsden said, adding that developing the stadium to Fifa standards would require an investment of around R4.3-billion. "The maximum capital contribution council can make towards this is R400-million," Marsden said. "The rest will have to come from the national government and other stakeholders." Construction work will begin in January 2007, so long as the national government makes its allocation towards the development of the stadium, Marsden said.

According to the study, it will take around 35 months for the construction work to be completed. To ensure that the stadium is financially sustainable after 2010, Marsden said the City would try to convince local professional rugby and soccer teams to use the venue as their home ground after 2010. Cape Town Mayor Helen Zille said the city would be bidding for the opening game of the tournament to be held in Cape Town.

Source: BuaNews