Sepp Blatter in South Africa
Thabo Mokgola
12 January 2005
Sepp Blatter, the president of football's world governing body Fifa, landed at Johannesburg International Airport on Wednesday morning for a two-day visit that will see him interact with President Thabo Mbeki and some of the country's top sport brass.
Addressing the media flanked by SA Football Association (Safa) President Molefi Oliphant and CEO Danny Jordaan, Blatter said he was honoured to be heading the world organisation at a time when the world's greatest soccer showpiece, the World Cup, would be hosted in the country in five years' time.
He explained that following his visit to South Africa four years ago, and having worked with Safa and others on the African continent, he was able to convince Fifa that the rotation of the World Cup ought to become a reality.
"It is with pleasure that now we have a guarantee that the first tournament on African soil will be played in South Africa under the auspices of Safa and under the guidance
and guarantees of President Thabo Mbeki and his government", Blatter said.
On Wednesday, Blatter was expected to interact with editors of major newspapers, meet with Minister in the Presidency Essop Pahad and have dinner with football stakeholders and government officials.
On Thursday, he is expected to meet with Safa's executive committee and thereafter depart for the Union Buildings in Pretoria, where he will receive the Order of Companion of OR Tambo, South Africa's highest civilian award for foreign nationals, on behalf of Fifa's executive committee.
Source: BuaNews
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