2010: Are we really ready?

With 757 days left until the 2010 World Cup, is South Africa really ready to host the illustrious tournament?

FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke certainly thinks so and told the media last week that South Africa was on their way to host a successful tournament. He received assurances from ANC president Jacob Zuma that no top figures in the Local Organising Committee (LOC) would change, should Zuma be elected as the country’s leader next year.

Valcke said: “Zuma assured us he would maintain the continuity in the LOC if he should became South African president. It would be in the interest of everyone if that status quo remains to run the World Cup.”

Despite the negative reports dooming the Confederations and World Cups, Valcke is not wavering in his undying support for the host nation.

He added: “There is nothing we can do about the negative reports.

“I do not know where they come from. We will prove all the doubters wrong.

“Believe me, this World Cup will be a huge success. All our reputations are on the line. We are happy with the way things are running.”

He concluded: “I am confident all the stadiums will be ready on time, plus all the roads leading to and from the stadiums - as well as the transport needed.”

But let’s look at the important factors to ensure the competition runs off without a hitch.

Stadiums

A FIFA and LOC delegation have given crucial deadlines for completion of the five stadiums to be used for the 2009 Confederations Cup.

And LOC chairman Irvin Khoza shares this sentiment, saying: “At this stage all five stadiums are still in. We are placing tight monitoring on all of them and if by any chance if any of them fails to comply with the agreed deadlines they will be removed (from the FIFA Confederations Cup schedule).

Hopefully the threats, I mean deadlines, will be the right motivation to ensure the work gets done properly and efficiently.

Administration

When South Africa won the rights to host the World Cup, the LOC, led by chief executive Danny Jordaan, were labelled heroes. But recent controversy within the organisation has made all of us worry that if the LOC can’t get its house in order, how on earth is it going to organise a successful World Cup?

Earlier this year, Director of Communications, Tim Modise, resigned, allegedly clashing with “control freak” Jordaan. The two settled their squabble and the former TV and radio talk show host returned to his post. Modise told The Citizen: “Irrespective of my relations with the employer, I will continue to support the tournament.”

Then South Africa’s media darling and former CNN and SABC anchor Tumi Makgabo quit as the LOC director of international affairs and communications.

Then just when the LOC couldn’t get any more attention, Khoza reacted to the reports of strife within his committee by shocking journalists when he repeatedly used the “k” word.

“I’m going to use a strong word and the media will forgive me for this, but people must stop thinking like ‘kaffirs’,”
he said.

Khoza later apologized but justified his comments saying the LOC worked hard to host this world-class event, “and now we want to destroy it.”

Not the smartest of moves Mr Khoza.

Security

Ah yes, security. According to national statistics, the crime rate in South Africa has dropped, yet citizens are still fearing for their safety. And who can blame then when actuality programmes are constantly exposing corruption and inefficient officials and officers, the same people we entrust our lives to and certainly not a good endorsement to the millions of tourists visiting our shores.

So with R600-million begin allocated to the South African Police Service, mostly to purchase equipment ranging from light aircraft to retractable fencing, tourists, I mean spectators of football local or abroad, will watch the game, travel safely to their respective lodging and sightsee to their hearts delight, without a care in the world. At least that’s the plan.

Where are Super Heroes when you really need them?

Transport

In 2006, President Thabo Mbeki allocated an additional R3 billion to improve South Africa’s public transport system ahead of the 2010 World Cup with the process to improve rail transport and build new infrastructure already underway. I must say that hosting the tournament in Africa is a highlight but to alleviate the transport problem in our country in the long run, will be the cherry on the rainbow nation cake.

My advice is to learn from the best and who better than Germany who hosted one of FIFA’s most successful tournament’s in 2006. Under the helm of former national captain, Franz Beckenbauer, the Europeans ran a tight ship and the competition ran smoothly. Besides the theatrics of some players, the 2006 event showed the world how a tournament should be operated. So call Mr Beckenbauer and his team, fly him over here, put them up in the best hotels and sap all the information you can from this football legend. And while the LOC is at it, give the Korea/Japan delegation a ring too because the 2002 tournament was a breakthrough in technology. From state of the art stadiums to amazing advances in transport, they showed the world how it’s done.

So, here’s hoping, fingers crossed, that the LOC prove all critics, including me, wrong, and showcase the best tournament the world has ever seen. The success of the tournament will not only reflect South Africa but the pride of a continent. More pressure for LOC, ouch!!!

By Alison de Villiers

This article is from the fine folks at Football365.co.za - The home of the African football fan