SA ready for 2010: Beckenbauer
8 March 2004
Bayern Munich boss and head of Germany's 2006 World Cup committee, Franz Beckenbauer, has rejected media reports that he was against the decision by Fifa, world soccer's controlling body, to give the 2010 World Cup hosting rights to Africa, and that he was against South Africa's bid to host the tournament.
In a statement printed in Business Day last week, Beckenbauer said that a full rotation of the hosting of the World Cup among the different continents would result in Europe hosting a World Cup once in 24 years. This, he said, "was something I cannot support, because Europe contributes almost 80% to the world economy of football".
"I will continue to argue for what I believe in", Beckenbauer added, "and respect the positions of Fifa members and affiliated football associations from other continents to argue their case."
However, the German footballing legend said that his conviction on the state of readiness of South Africa to host the
2010 tournament "has not changed".
"I have had a meeting with former president Nelson Mandela, South African government officials and leaders from the South African business community. I have inspected the infrastructure in South Africa, and have also developed friendships with the South African football community during the 2006 bid, and I am convinced that South Africa is ready to host the World Cup."
Beckenbauer is the only footballer who has won the World Cup both as a player and as a manager. The peak of his playing career was when he captained his country to World Cup victory in the Olympic Stadium in his home city of Munich in 1974, when Germany beat Holland 2-1 in the finals.
He also captained Bayern Munich to three successive European Cups - in 1974, 1975 and 1976 - and also to the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1967. Beckenbauer was voted European Footballer of the Year in 1972 and 1976, was capped a record 103 times for his country, and scored 14 goals
despite his role as a defensive sweeper.
After retiring from international football, Beckenbauer was appointed the West German national manager in 1984. He guided Germany to qualification for the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, taking the team to the finals where they lost 3-2 to Argentina.
He was also in charge of Germany in Italy 1990, when his charges defeated Bobby Robson's England on penalties in the finals.
SouthAfrica.info reporter
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