All the news from the build up to 2010

Port Elizabeth first to launch official host city website

Thursday, 08 May 2008

Port Elizabeth are the first host city of the 2010 World Cup to launch their official website and you know what, it's actually quite nice and very informative.

The site is packed with lots of information for visitors to Port Elizabeth and if you're going to South Africa it's one place you must visit and visit by road, not air, if you get the opportunity.

To visit the website click here.

Saturday, 19 April 2008

With the World Cup due to kick off in a little over two years Bafana Bafana look like they could be heading for a troubling few months, as it emerged in Brazil yesterday that the current coach, Carlos Alberto Parreira is set to quit.

However, all is not lost as it also looks like SAFA will approach current Manchester City manager, Sven-Göran Eriksson, if his contract is terminated this summer by new club owner Thaksin Shinawatra.

Wednesday, 16 April 2008

Cape Town have launched a competition to design the World Cup poster that will be used all over the Mother City and you've got a chance of designing it, if you're local that is.

Durban had over 80 entries and the competition closed on Monday, but Cape Town has just begun and no doubt the other host cities will also soon be running competitions soon.

Friday, 04 April 2008

FIFA have apparently demanded that British newspaper, The Guardian, retract a claim that FIFA have established a £400 million insurance fund to assist South Africa if they fail to complete in time for the 2010 World Cup.

The story, written by 'Digger' columnist Matt Scott was published online on April 2nd and can be read here.

Wednesday, 19 March 2008

South Africa will spend around R30 billion ($3.7 billion) on hosting the 2010 World Cup, according to a report released yesterday.

"This report shows we have complied with literally every guarantee we have made, we even went beyond that," Sports Minister Mike Stofile told the SAPA news agency.

Thursday, 06 March 2008

Packages, including match tickets for the 2010 World Cup will be on sale from June this year for the South African domestic market and from September if you're not in South Africa, it was confirmed today.

We don't have any links for you yet on where and how you can buy these packages but we're working on getting them, however we can tell you these are not 'match tickets' but packages including hospitality, food and potentially flights and hotels.

Saturday, 01 March 2008

Tumi Makgabo has quit her position at the 2010 LOC (Local Organising Committee) as head of communications and international relations.

This follows the resignation two weeks ago of head of marketing, Tim Modise and a number of rumours of growing tension between a number of people and Danny Jordaan, CEO of the local organising committee.

Tuesday, 12 February 2008

FIFA top dog Sepp Blatter has said the 2010 World Cup in South Africa could be played on artificial grass pitches.

"We have envisaged, though it's not yet a final decision, that the 2010 World Cup could be played on artificial turf," Blatter told BBC Sport.

"An artificial pitch gives you the same conditions during the whole year," said Blatter, who expressed his concern over the quality of the 2008 Nations Cup pitches.

"I've followed with a lot of interest most of the matches of this competition, and I have to say that African football is at a very high level," he said.

Monday, 11 February 2008

Thabo Mbeki has assured Sepp Blatter, head of FIFA, that South Africa would host a successful World Cup in 2010 despite ongoing concerns over electricity outages throughout South Africa.

President Mbeki confronted doubts about his country’s 2010 preparations in talks with Blatter and other officials on the sidelines of the African Union summit in Ethiopia last week.

Thursday, 31 January 2008

Well, that's the message coming from South African Football Association vice president Chief Mwelo Nonkonyana this week.

“I believe South Africa will win the World Cup in 2010. And in the highly unlikely event that South Africa do not win the World Cup, another African team will.” he told a gathering in Tamale on Monday.

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