by Patson Phiri – SANF 06 No 54
Attention has shifted to South Africa which is set to host the 2010 World Cup finals following the close of the 2006 soccer fiesta in Germany.
The World Cup finals will for the first time be hosted by Africa, creating an opportunity for soccer lovers to experience African tourism in the southern African region.
The World Cup finals have always been hosted by other continents since its inauguration in 1930.
From the beautiful stadiums of Germany, soccer lovers will have a chance to sample African cultural tourism.
South Africa’s World Cup ambassador and retired Ghanaian football icon, Abedi Pele, said “Africa will do it the African style”, brushing aside thoughts that South Africa should adjust to the Western standards.
South Africa and its neighbouring countries boast of a range of landscapes and a teeming cast of free-range animals, giving the World Cup lovers a double treat never experienced in any of the developed countries that have hosted the trophy before.
Preparations and attention have taken a new gear after the 9 July final when Italy took over as champions of the world.
Italy beat France to become the World Champions via a 5-3 bashing on post-match penalties.
The two teams drew one-all in regulation time and the extra time failed to attract goals in an interesting encounter giving way to the penalty shootout.
The eyes are now on South Africa’s preparations but history is already on their side.
The country has previously successfully hosted big events such as the Rugby World Cup finals in 1995, the African Cup of Nations in 1996 and Cricket World Cup finals in 2003, which it co-hosted with Zimbabwe and Kenya.
The South African government is confident that the World Cup finals will be successful.
President Thabo Mbeki has assured that the country will overcome the challenges and host a spectacular event, dismissing fears that FIFA intended to shift the World Cup finals to Australia due to lack of proper security and infrastructure.
Reiterating South Africa’s determination to present a successful soccer World Cup, Mbeki said: “Sometime ago, we said South Africa would get rid of apartheid, and there were some people who didn’t believe us.”
André Pruis, deputy head of the South African Police Services and chairperson of the joint operations and intelligence structure for the 2010 World Cup, said local law-enforcement agencies were inadequate but would rely heavily on International Police (Interpol).
South Africa has already finalised a security plan that contains measures worked out with FIFA and Interpol to screen people coming for the World Cup.
Host cities, said Pruis, would be divided into rings of security around the stadiums while uniformed police officers would be stationed in bars and restaurants near the venues to curb potential outbreaks of drunken and racist violence.
On infrastructure, South Africa has already unveiled the host cities and stadiums as required by FIFA.
Infrastructure development is under the R8.5 billion budget for capital projects related to the 2010 World Cup finals announced by the government in February this year.
South Africa has been struggling against time to finalise some of the projects ahead of 2010.
The ambitious Gautrain rapid-rail project that was set to reduce traffic congestion during the soccer showpiece will not be completely ready by 2010, said the contractors.
The Gauteng provincial government and construction company Murray & Roberts said the triangular route — from Johannesburg International Airport to Sandton — will only be ready some months after the World Cup.
To deal with this challenge, the government is developing a “transport master plan” that will improve South Africa’s public transport system ahead of 2010.
The plan proposes the development of new routes for formal public transport to conform to the growing population and urban expansion.
Transport Minister Jeff Radebe told the 25th annual Southern African Transport Conference that infrastructure engineering had to respond to the needs of all transport users including pedestrians, cyclists, cart-pushers and people with disabilities.
The hosting of the world soccer showpiece is set to increase pre-tournament activities throughout southern Africa to ensure increased spill over and direct benefits in a region that has created little impact in soccer.
Southern Africa has developed a joint strategy to improve infrastructure ahead of the soccer World Cup.
The strategy, known as the Trans-Frontier Conservation Areas 2010 Soccer World Cup Strategy, will be used to develop and market various trans-frontier parks and trans-frontier conservation areas in southern Africa as premier tourist destinations for the region.
The region intends to use the soccer tournament to hasten the pace of infrastructure and tourism-based development in identified national parks and conservation areas.
South Africa’s hosting of the 2010 World Cup and the need for regional cooperation in boosting infrastructure came up for discussion at the SADC Council of Ministers held in Botswana from 23-24 February.
The SADC Summit of the Heads of State and Government in August, coming barely four years before the event, will most likely discuss South Africa’s hosting of the World Cup in view of the attention given at the ministerial level.
