Moses Mabhida stadium marks 100-days WC countdown on high
2010-03-03 12:00
DURBAN’S Moses Mabhida Stadium was the place to be yesterday as it
hosted the biggest function in South Africa’s celebrations of a 100 days before
the 2010 Fifa World Cup kicks off.
Sepp Blatter, the Fifa president who has been dubbed one of ten
greatest marketers in the world, Republic of SA acting president Kgalema
Motlanthe, South African Football Association (Safa) President Kirsten
Nematandani, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Zweli Mkhize, eThekwini city mayor Obed
Mlaba, Confederation of African Football (Caf) president Issa Hayatou and SA
2010 Fifa World Cup Local Organising Committee (LOC) chairman Irvin Khoza were
among the heavyweights present.
Also present were LOC chief executive Danny Jordaan, Fifa secretary
general Jerome Valcke as well as former Bafana Bafana captains Lucas Radebe and
Neil Tovey.
Blatter had the audience captivated as he told of a love story that
started more than 20 years ago between a Fifa development officer (himself) and
the African continent that was now heading towards “a wedding party”.
“This campaign (to host the World Cup) started some 4 480 days
ago. At some stage there were about 2 000 days left,” reminisced Blatter. “And
today, there is only 100 days to go before the first African World Cup kicks
off.”
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The media gathering was preceded by a tour of the state-of-the-arts
stadium.
The media contingent that has been on tour with the LOC and Fifa to
all the host cities was shown all the facilities inside that stadium.
“My first thoughts at this time is to put on my soccer boots and go
and test that beautiful pitch,” said Motlanthe.
“On a serious note, there is more work to do as we countdown to
June 11. Motar and bricks are now complete and we need to concentrate on other
aspects such as the movement of people. We must ensure that our visitors are
welcomed with a spirit of Ubuntu.”
Motlanthe said the “six pack” of Africa, which is Nigeria, Ivory
Coast, Cameroon, Algeria, Ghana and South Africa, must ensure that at least two
of them reach the final “to ensure that the cup remains on the African
soil.”
At a gala dinner held at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International
Convention Centre (ICC) on Monday night, Motlanthe had presented representatives
from the six countries with congratulatory certificates for qualifying for the
World Cup.
Nematandani assured the country: “We will have a decent team come
the World Cup.”
He said from his organisation’s perspective, this World Cup was
more than what will happen on the field.
“It is about the legacy it will leave such as the artificial turfs.
Beyond that we will be using football as a social movement. Our football will
never be the same after the World Cup as it will be a game that touches
lives.”
Khoza said it was important to know that the World Cup will not
just be hosted by a small group of people but all the 44 million-plus
citizens.
“It is history that except the issue of the pitch at the Mbombela
Stadium, we are three months ahead of schedule. The rate at which the Bafana
Bafana jerseys are selling, are proof of the enthusiasm and excitement of all
South Africans.”
Bafana will play a friendly match against Namibia at the Moses
Mabhida Stadium tonight where technical sponsor Adidas will launch a new
jersey.
Tomorrow, coach Carlos Alberto Parreira is expected to announce the
group of 30 players he will take with to a month-long camp in Brazil and another
month in Germany.
- City Press