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FIFA World Cup

World Cup for African continent, says Motlanthe

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 09:02

Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe has reiterated that the 2010 FIFA World Cup is not just for South Africa, but for the entire continent.

“The World Cup is for all of Africa,” said the Deputy President at the World Economic Forum in Cape Town.

He added that as South Africa marked 365 days to go before the World Cup kick-off, the country was ready. “We are ready. We have been getting ready over the years.”

LOC Chief Executive Officer, Dr Danny Jordaan, said the country was beating down the doubts about its capability to host the World Cup. “Everyone has moved from calling it a plan B country,” he said.

Dr Jordaan said the World Cup was not only about the spectacle itself but also making South Africa a better country for its people.

“People must embrace it, we need to get people excited. South Africans are late believers. We must encourage South Africans,” he said.

Former Bafana Bafana coach Jomo Sono said he believed that South Africa would move past the first round in the World Cup tournament.

“I strongly believe that if they have the support they will surprise a few people. I believe they will go past the first round,” he said.

Mr Sono added that a mechanism that will help improve soccer on the continent was the building of infrastructure adding that the construction currently underway would help in the building of the sport following 2010.

First National Bank Southern Africa Chief Executive Officer Michael Jordaan said South Africa’s hosting of the spectacle in the time of a recession was a good thing.

“We could not have asked for a better time,” he said, explaining that the infrastructure development would boost the country’s economy.

- BuaNews