Soccerex to be 'biggest ever'
19 November 2007
Over 5 000 delegates from the international football fraternity, along with over 300 exhibitors from 90 countries, are expected to attend Soccerex 2007, the first South African edition of the world's biggest business-to-business football exhibition.
Now in its eleventh year, Soccerex will take place in Johannesburg for the next three years after being held in Dubai for the past five.
This year's event runs from 25 to 28 November at the Sandton Convention Centre - coinciding with the first official event in the lead-up to the 2010 Fifa World Cup, the preliminary draw taking place in Durban.
Football legends, top football clubs and football playing nations, and football-related businesses attend Soccerex, giving exhibitors and delegates the opportunity to network with suppliers, manufacturers, key buyers and decision-makers in the industry.
Fifa President Sepp Blatter will officially open the event, welcoming football associations
such as the Union of European Football Association (Uefa) and football clubs such as AC Milan, Arsenal, Blackburn Rovers, Chelsea, FC Barcelona, Kaizer Chiefs, Leeds United, Liverpool, Manchester United, Orlando Pirates and Real Madrid.
World Cup winning coach Carlos Alberto Parreira, now the coach of South Africa's national football team, will also be on hand to officially open the exhibition halls.
Well over 300 exhibition stands have been sold for this year's event, with the majority of exhibitors from the 2006 show booking larger spaces to build on the business generated and relationships developed over the previous years.
It is projected that Soccerex will bring more than R700-million into South Africa's economy, as well as providing billions of rands' worth of media coverage.
Speaking at a media briefing in Johannesburg in June, Soccerex chairperson Tony Martin described the expo as "the greatest opportunity to reach the friends and family in football."
Soccerex CEO Duncan Revie said the organisers were "delighted to offer sponsors, delegates and exhibitors the opportunity to experience the reality, professionalism and pride of South Africa over the next three years leading up to the 2010 Fifa World Cup.
"We will be sending out 5 000 disciples of soccer to spread the message that South Africa is going to host the best World Cup ever," Revie added.
The convention will be preceded by a football festival featuring a match between an "African Legends XI" led by former South African internationals Lucas Radebe and Mark Fish, and an "Asia Select XI" led by Ali Daei and including Bryan Robson (formerly of Manchester United) and Phil Thompson and John Barnes (Liverpool).
SAinfo reporter, City of Johannesburg and BuaNews
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