SA presents Bid Book to Fifa
1 October 2003
A South African delegation presented the country's Bid Book to world football body Fifa in Zurich, Switzerland on Tuesday, following Monday's announcement by Nigeria that it was withdrawing its bid and throwing its weight behind South Africa's campaign to host the 2010 Football World Cup.
According to news website IOL, South Africa's bid presentation "stood out brightly ... with a slick and professional package that included video messages from South African President Thabo Mbeki, national hero Nelson Mandela and British soccer star David Beckham".
South Africa is competing against Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia and Libya to host world soccer's premier quadrennial event, which Fifa has committed to staging in Africa for the first time.
In a polished presentation, IOL reports, South Africa "reminded Fifa of its experience in hosting international events, such as the 1995 Rugby World Cup, the African
Nations Cup of Football in 1996, the 1999 All African Games and the ICC Cricket World Cup last year" - and also reported that it had 80% of the stadiums required for a World Cup already built.
Mandela, in his video transmission - with a smiling Beckham seated alongside him - said that it was "important in a country where democracy is only burgeoning to be able to seize such an opportunity ... If you give us your support, others will follow."
South Africa's delegation was led by SA 2010 Bid Company chairman Irvin Khoza, chief executive Danny Jordaan, and SA Football Association president Molefi Oliphant. They were accompanied by Sports Minister Ngconde Balfour and Minister in the Presidency Essop Pahad.
Nigerian Sports Minister Musa Mohammed said on Monday that his country would now throw its weight behind South Africa's efforts. "In the spirit of African brotherhood and Nigeria's cordial relationship with South Africa, the federal government has withdrawn from the
bid of the 2010 World Cup and lends its full support to South Africa," Mohammed said.
The Bid Company presented the six kilogram, three-volume book to President Thabo Mbeki in Pretoria on Friday.
In accepting the book, Mbeki said: "Holding the Soccer World Cup here in 2010 will do enormous good for soccer in our country and the continent and for soccer in the world," adding that the move would make an important statement that at last the world of soccer and sport had accepted that Africa belongs among the community of sporting continents.
South Africa has also roped in distinguished former soccer stars as the country's bid ambassadors. They include Abedi Pele of Ghana, Kalusha Bwalya of Zambia, Liberia's George Weah, Roger Milla of Cameroon and South Africans Kaizer Motaung, Jomo Sono, Philemon Masinga, and Lucas Radebe.
According to IOL, Fifa will now examine each prospective host country before reporting to its executive committee. The final decision will
be made at the end of April or beginning of May 2004.
SouthAfrica.info reporter
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