South Africa passes the test

  1. Posted on Monday 29 June 2009 - 11:40
    Mernat
    Image of Mernat
    Mernat Mafirakurewa, AfricaNews reporter in Johannesburg, South Africa
    The Confederations Cup, which ended on Sunday, has demonstrated SA's ability to host large events and also dispel doubts over next year's World Cup. Organising committee CEO Danny Jordaan refused to get carried away with the success given next year's World Cup is an altogether different ball game.
    SA 2009
    “I think we achieved everything we set out to at this tournament," he said. The key issue is that the teams are happy, the media are happy, the commercial partners are happy, and the fans are happy,” said Jordan.

    Jordan said they would not celebrate just yet but would have to work harder for next year’s event.

    “we are not going to celebrate the plus points, but look at the debrief after the tournament to help us deliver the kind of World Cup that we all want to deliver and we will work with FIFA to make that a reality,” he said.

    SA’s hosting capability is no longer in doubt and preparations for the World Cup can begin in earnest today after the experience gained from accommodating, transporting and providing security to the seven countries that took part in the eight-nation event.

    FIFA president Sepp Blatter, SA’s biggest supporter, said last week that, on a scale of one to 10, he gave SA eight. Blatter argued that it was illogical for even the most cynical of visitors to have expected the tournament to be smooth sailing as “perfection does not exist anywhere in the world.”

    With less than a year on the clock to kick-off at Soweto's stunning Soccer City, players, managers, fans, and crucially, FIFA's top brass have all given SA the thumbs-up.

    The Confederation Cup has played an important role in helping South Africa prepare to greet the world next year, this two-week warm-up identifying a number of areas where there is still work to be done.

    Irvin Khoza, chairperson of the local organising committee described the tournament as historic for the country.

    “Never in the history of this country have we seen South Africans so united on the field of play. The spectators showed that all of South Africa can be united facing the same direction,” he said.

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