Soccer administrators and supporters have converged in Kimberley in the Northern Cape for a two-day Soccer Indaba to discuss issues including provincial preparations for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Delegates hope to map out what needs to be done.

"What will South Africa need to successfully host the Soccer World Cup in its 11 identified cities?" - is the question that the meeting is trying to answer. The Local Organising Committee (LOC)says technical and socio-economic conditions will decide which cities host the event. Danny Jordaan, the CEO of the 2010 local organising committee, says between now and 2006 they have been doing a lot of work to ensure that there is full compliance in delivering the World Cup in 2010.

Jordaan says they are going to Germany to have an in-depth look and discussion in order to further analyse the extent to which we have to provide infrastructure and the Northern Cape wants the piece of the pie. Kagisho Molusi, the Northern Cape sports MEC, says have already conducted a feasibility study and indications are that they are on track. Molusi says the Sol-Plaatjie municipality has already allocated a piece of land next to the Legislature in order to build a world class stadium. He says they are positive that the team (organising) at the same time will also work towards ensuring that they have a PSL team by 2008.

On any lessons that can be learnt from the successes of the 2003 Cricket World Cup, Ali Bacher, the CEO of the Ali Bacher foundation, says they have the capacity and they have a very good track record and have been very successful in this regard and sees no difference with a soccer event.

FIFA will have the final say. But Jordaan says sporting events will be held before the FIFA's inspection team arrives in 2008 to decide on host cities.

Source: SABC

blog comments powered by Disqus