Will the World Cup Start a Riot?
Saturday, June 12, 2010
The World Cup has officially started, and the home team can hold its head high: South Africa tied group-favorite Mexico 1-1 on Friday. That means the host nation remains undefeated in opening World Cup matches, with a record of 15-0-5. South Africa took the early lead, despite playing defense most of the first half, when Siphiwe Tshabalala scored after 55 minutes. Rafael Marquez evened the scored for Mexico after 79 minutes, and the score remained there—the closest call being a shot by South Africa’s Katlego Mphela hit the post in the 90th minute of play. Meanwhile, The Daily Beast's Gretchen L. Wilson reports a rumor is sweeping the country: When the soccer ends, a war on foreigners and the poor will begin.
When the first whistle blows in the opening match of the World Cup Friday, think of Abdirahman Nuur Jilley, who will be watching at a friend’s house, wearing the yellow jersey of Bafana Bafana, the national team of his adopted country.
Jilley was born in Somalia 22 years ago, but fled the war-torn country as a teenager to settle in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Jilley calls himself a “soccer addict.” He’s thrilled to have tickets to see his two other favorite teams (Ivory Coast and Portugal) go head to head next week. But like many undocumented immigrants in South Africa, he is afraid of what will happen to him when the tournament ends on July 11.
“I feel very scared,” he said. “We’re getting threatened—told that after the World Cup is over, we’re going to attack you, loot your property, and chase you away from South Africa.”
“Everyone you meet on the street is saying, ‘Did you hear? The foreigners are going to be kicked out immediately after the World Cup,’” said one South African.
South Africa is hosting the first World Cup on African soil just 16 years after the transition to democracy, and it’s a major achievement. In Johannesburg, the mood is jubilant. People of all races wear yellow T-shirts and don their cars in the South African flag. Horns are honking. Strangers are smiling. And everyone is ready to start drinking. For the nation’s urban elite, hosting the world’s single biggest sporting event is a feel-good, watershed moment—a chance for sports to unify the country, as rugby did in 1995, a year celebrated in the Clint Eastwood film Invictus.
South Africa’s poorest neighborhoods, destitute areas where often more than 40 percent of adults are unemployed, and millions of black South Africans still live in apartheid-era shacks without electricity or running water.
Some South Africans blame foreigners for the blight in their neighborhoods, or express frustration at immigrants operating successful small businesses there, reflecting a surge of xenophobic sentiment around the country.
In South Africa’s poorest communities, locals are canvassing the streets, approaching African immigrants with formal letters or verbal warnings: go home now—or face vigilante violence after the World Cup ends on July 11. The notion that the World Cup final will be followed by a war on poor and African foreigners is sweeping the nation. And given South Africa’s recent history, these xenophobic tensions may become the story of this World Cup, or its aftermath.
“The message that’s on the street is, ‘If you don’t have an ID, we are taking you out after the World Cup. We will take you to the police, and if the police don’t do something to you, we are going to do it ourselves,’” said 22-year-old Asmath Chauke, who lives in Alexandra, a congested neighborhood of ramshackle houses just a few miles from Johannesburg’s wealthiest suburb.
Chauke said she’s scared of what may happen.
“People who are spreading these rumors are saying, ‘We will beat them up to show the government we are very serious. We don’t want them around. If we have to kill them we’ll kill them. We will just do anything to get them out of South Africa.’”
The inequalities of apartheid are long lasting. The most recent U.N. Human Development Index, which rates nations on a number of factors, including income, life expectancy, and education, ranks South Africa at 129 among 182 countries. In rural areas and townships, many of the nation’s 47 million citizens live in poverty, surviving only on meager government pensions. Still, many Africans see it as a Shangri-la, and the borders are porous. South African Police Service said the country is home to between 3 million and 6 million undocumented immigrants. Most are Africans fleeing poverty, conflict and famine in their home countries—places such as Zimbabwe, Mozambique, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Somalia.
Most of these immigrants live under the radar in South Africa’s most destitute communities—from crammed urban ghettoes to remote rural settlements. As their numbers swell, more people go after the same few jobs, and there’s even greater pressure on housing, clinics, schools, and sanitation systems.
“When everyone is competing for those scant resources, people look for scapegoats,” said South African political analyst Adam Habib. “Previously, those scapegoats were racial groups. Now it’s not cool to point to racial groups, so it’s foreign nationals.”
I started hearing rumors about xenophobic attacks in early April. First one acquaintance mentioned it casually. Then another. So I asked people I met on the street: South African construction workers, Zimbabwean domestic workers, Malawian gardeners. I talked to dozens of strangers. And everyone knew what I was talking about: the violence will start again after the World Cup. As if it is a done deal.
Isolated xenophobic attacks have continued since May of 2008, and living conditions haven’t improved much. But I am shocked how these new rumors have been codified into a kind of collective South African premonition.
“Everyone you meet on the street is saying, ‘Did you hear? The foreigners are going to be kicked out immediately after the World Cup,’” said Elizabeth Mokoena, manager of a child welfare agency in Alexandra, which saw some of the worst xenophobic violence in 2008.
Some people told me there is almost an excitement about it. And a kind of humor. Suddenly, crappy cars on the road are pointed out as “Zimbabwean” cars. “People are more and more calling us Zimbabweans kwerekwere (“foreigner”),” said Giyane Dube, a leader of Johannesburg’s Zimbabwean community. “They say, ‘You Zimbabweans are taking our jobs, occupying our spaces.’ Xenophobia is at a peak now.”
South Africans have told me stories about civil servants talking back to foreigners: nurses demanding to see IDs before treating people. Or border control officials boasting about how, after the World Cup, they’re going to stop stamping the papers of those seeking status as refugees.
Other people have told me anecdotes about how police tell foreigners in sotto voce to get out of the country, ostensibly as a humane gesture. “Save yourselves,” they say.
Still others told me how commuters chat wistfully about how nice it will be in August, when foreigners no longer crowd Johannesburg’s streets. “Just imagine,” they say, “no more traffic!”
So far, it’s just talk. There’s certainly no evidence that anything like organized pogroms will be unleashed on July 12, the day after the World Cup ends.
Yet in recent weeks, humanitarian groups—including South Africa’s Human Rights Commission and Amnesty International—have issued warnings about new xenophobic violence, particularly in the run up to local government elections early next year.
In response, South Africa’s cabinet has revived a high-level committee to respond to the threats. Cabinet spokesperson Themba Maseko last week told journalists that police would respond “speedily and decisively” to intimidation against foreigners. “It is totally unacceptable to attack foreign nationals. We will not tolerate it,” Maseko said. Many South Africans may not tolerate it either. The foreshadowing of xenophobic violence is so localized in poor communities that most upper- and middle-class South Africans may not yet have heard anything about it.
Adirhaman Nuur Jilley, the Somali immigrant, said in recent weeks more than 20 Somali small business owners throughout the rural Eastern Cape province have called him to report being threatened by locals. But Jilley says South Africa is also home to “very good people,” and he’s counting on the World Cup to unify the country.
“Only God knows what is going to happen, but what I hope is that after the World Cup, people here will love each other as Africans, and as human beings,” Jilley said.
Gretchen L. Wilson is Africa correspondent for the public-radio program Marketplace. Wilson is also co-author of From Dust to Diamonds: Stories of South African Social Entrepreneurs.
Labels: South Africa
posted @ 9:51 AM,
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Soccer fever grips Parliament
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Football fever seized MPs on Thursday at a joint sitting of Parliament's two houses to debate the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
"Honourable members, please, there should be no vuvuzelas in the House!" Speaker Max Sisulu admonished members in the National Assembly, after his call for them to come to order was greeted with a horn blast.
This provoked much laughter among MPs, all of whom were in a festive mood, wearing Bafana shirts under their jackets. Many had donned football hats and scarves, while one NCOP member sported an Afro-style brightly-coloured wig.
DA parliamentary leader Athol Trollip had mounted a small Zakumi mascot doll on his bench alongside a miniature soccer ball.
Across the floor, Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe sat with a scarf in the colours of the South African flag around his neck.
Opening the debate, ANC MP and chairperson of the sports portfolio committee, Butana Komphela, said the event was "a dream of the nation come true".The country's stadiums, airports, roads and accommodation facilities were all ready, he told MPs.
"It is so wonderful today to be an African...," he said.
He paid tribute to several opposition party members, whom, he said, had put aside political differences and united around the drive to prepare for the cup.
Ten minutes into the debate, the Zakumi mascot made an appearance in the public gallery, and was recognised by Sisulu.
"A warm welcome to you," he told Zakumi, who waved from high up in the back of the House as MPs applauded and cheered.
Earlier, some MPs practised diski dance moves in front of the National Assembly building, and signed a giant Bafana football jersey.
Labels: South Africa
posted @ 9:51 AM,
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Vuvuzela: SA football's beautiful noise
What's plastic, a metre long, brightly coloured and sounds like an elephant? It's the vuvuzela, the noise-making trumpet of South African football fans, and it's come to symbolise the sport in the country.
It's an instrument, but not always a musical one. Describing the atmosphere in a stadium packed with thousands of fans blowing their vuvuzelas is difficult. Up close it's an elephant, sure, but en masse the sound is more like a massive swarm of very angry bees.
And when there's action near the goal mouth, those bees go really crazy.
To get that sound out requires lip flexibility and lung strength - in short, a fair amount of technique. So be sure to get in some practice before attending a South African football match, or you the sound you produce may cause some amusement in the seats around you!
Vuvuzela supplier Boogieblast offers this advice: "Put your lips inside the mouthpiece and almost make a 'farting' sound. Relax your cheeks and let your lips vibrate inside the mouthpiece. As soon as you get that trumpeting sound, blow harder until you reach a ridiculously loud 'boogying blast'.
Read here
Labels: South Africa
posted @ 9:48 AM,
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Let The Game Begin
Let the games begin.
Labels: South Africa
posted @ 9:46 AM,
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Nelson Mandela will attend FIFA World Cup opening ceremonies in South Africa
As was announced today by his family, South Africa's Former President Nelson Mandela is scheduled to attend the opening ceremonies of the World Cup this week.
This means the world event has now become an even bigger one with the promise of an appearance of this great man who worked long and hard for his country's unification, winning the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts. The World Cup symbolizes that courage, and so to have this global leader show up to start the event will mean, well, the world to the millions who admire Mandela.
Although the Nelson Mandela Foundation said the great man will be appeared, this has been confirmed by Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandela today who told the press:
"He will come and greet the fans... before he retires to his home. We're trying to see how long he will stay at the stadium. At least 10 to 15 minutes.'
Since this South African icon is now 91, and since his appearances are not very frequent, all fans of football (both soccer and American) and all fans of civil rights should be sure to put their focus on Nelson Mandela as he greets the world at the opening ceremonies of this world-class event. Hopefully, the whole experience will mean a big boost to South African tourism as we start to watch the FIFA World Cup beginning Friday in Soccer City.
Labels: Nelson Mandela, South Africa
posted @ 9:23 AM,
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World Cup Murals
ESPN's advertising campaign for the 2010 FIFA World Cup is a celebration of the World Cup and the host country, South Africa.
These promotional efforts include 33 original pieces of artwork -- one for each participating country and one general World Cup piece. The look of each work was inspired by hand-painted African signage and movie posters. This hand-painted style can be found in the streets and townships across South Africa and the entire African continent.
The paintings, created at AM I Collective Studios in Cape Town, South Africa, tell the story of each team's plight or essence as it enters the country for the World Cup.
Click here to view the entire gallery of 33 murals.
Labels: South Africa
posted @ 9:20 AM,
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Soccer Fans
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Flag-waving soccer fans cheer on South Africa’s Bafana Bafana (the Boys) during an international match. The country, passionate about sport, will host the entire world for the 2010 FIFA World Cup—the first to take place on African soil. Photograph by Getty Images
Labels: South Africa
posted @ 1:10 PM,
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South Africa at Boiling Point
South Africa’s Brazilian coach is finely tuning his squad making sure the host nation will be no pushover. England, despite losing Rio Ferdinand (Captain) are confident and start by warning the USA, buoyed by a convincing 3-1 victory over Australia.
There is no doubt that the build-up to the South Africa FIFA 2010 World Cup is reaching electric proportions, this venue proving to be one of the most fascinating in the history of World Cup Soccer.
Host nation South Africa promise not to be a pushover. A 1-0 win over Denmark saw the team coached by Brazil’s Carlos Alberto Parreira go 12 games unbeaten. Katlego “Killer” Mphela scored the only goal of the match after 76’. Parreira’s 4-2-3-1 formation promises to deliver much in the weeks ahead. Will South Africa be the Continent’s first nation to hoist the World Cup? South Africa start the tournament against Mexico on Friday June 11.
England fans call their group EASY. England, Algeria, Slovenia, Yanks. The “Yanks” (USA) is far from being an easy team to beat these days. Of the 23 man squad, four players play in clubs in the USA, the remaining nineteen bringing a vast wealth of experience from the English championship (8 players, including the three goalkeepers); Germany (3 players); Mexico (2); Scotland (2); Italy, Norway, France, Denmark (1).
With this wealth of experience, and a physical approach, the team is far from being a joke, its ranking at number 14 in the FIFA classification bearing witness to the growing influence of the USA in world soccer. Frank Lampard, the England defender, has warned the USA against any tactics to try to destabilise England players, saying that England manager, the Italian Fabio Capello, has instilled into his players the necessity not to lose their heads and commit fouls.
England meet the USA in the opening game of Group C on Saturday June 12 in Rustenburg. The USA destroyed Australia 3-1 in their last training match with two goals by Buddle (LA Galaxy) and the last by Gomez (Puebla, Mexico).
Two-times World Champions Uruguay promise to be here to have a great World Cup. Oscar Tabarez’s side is confident, focused and determined, in the words of striker Oscar Abreu, who promises to maintain the high standards of Uruguayan soccer.
Brazil is concentrated and focused on the sixth world championship (Brazil currently holds 5, Italy 4, Germany 3). Dunga’s talented and experienced squad enter the Finals as the FIFA number 1 team in the classification and Brazil this time has an iron defence to add to its golden attack.
Labels: South Africa
posted @ 8:52 AM,
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Life Outside South Africa’s Stadiums
Saturday, June 5, 2010
As hundreds of thousands of soccer fans pour into South Africa to watch the World Cup, we asked residents from five of the nine host cities what shouldn?t be missed. While sharing their favorite things to eat, see and do, they all agreed on a few larger truths: some streets could be safer, the beaches are beautiful, the cities electric and the wildlife unparalleled. This week, with the eyes of the world upon them, they are ready to show it all off. Read more here!
Labels: South Africa, Travel
posted @ 11:47 AM,
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FIFA World Cup South Africa
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Is it just another soccer sim? Hardly. If you haven't yet sunk your cleats into EA Sports' 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa, the following are some interesting factoids about the game to consider -- from Electronic Arts' Matt Prior, producer of the game for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.
-- 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa has the most teams ever to appear in a World Cup game. Every single one of the 199 teams that competed in the real World Cup tournament are in the game ranging from footballing giants such as Brazil, Argentina & England all the way to minnows such as US Virgin Islands, Barbados & Grenada.
-- The game engine is so advanced that the altitude at which the game is being played will affect the players stamina. Play a game against Bolivia in high altitude La Paz and you'll notice your players tire quickly and the ball physics will also be effected. The game accurately re-creates playing the beautiful game in a whole range of different global environments and conditions.
-- For the first time ever people can now play the entire World Cup tournament online. Through some clever design you can now play through the tournament online at your leisure without having to wait for other fixtures to take place or without having to wait around for friends to turn up. From group stage to finals, the whole tournament is available against other users online.
-- In order to capture the unique atmosphere of South African football we flew people out to South Africa to record the Vuvuzela trumpet noise at real games. We also created unique fully rendered crowds for each of the different nations that appear in the game, that's 199 unique crowds all with unique dress, head gear and face paint. The incredible carnival atmosphere that makes the World Cup so special has never been re-created so authentically.
-- During the actual World Cup tournament in South Africa you will be able to re-live the events of the day by downloading free scenarios that re-create what took place in the actual games. For example, if the USA were losing to Algeria in the 85th minute but came back with two late goals by Landon Donovan, the following day you would be able to download the scenario and take control of Donovan and try and recreate his last minute heroics. Never before has the real tournament been so closely linked with the game.
Labels: FIFA 2010, South Africa
posted @ 1:41 PM,
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Hands-on: 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Every four years the sports world is graced with the largest soccer tournament on Earth. This year the World Cup will be played on African soil and to celebrate the games we're taking a look at EA's 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa.
Jeff:
There's something special about EA's FIFA World Cup games. For the most part the action is relatively similar to FIFA 10, but perhaps it's the overall presentation and sense of realism that allow the game to assume its own identity.
Sure, there are a few new features in 2010 FIFA World Cup; you can now play the entire tournament online and there are some new penalties that get called during the action. A few trite coach cutaways aside, FIFA World Cup really does nail the feeling of excitement associated with the world's greatest sports tournament and is ultimately where the game shines the most.
(Credit: Gamespot)
Those looking for something completely unique from a gameplay standpoint may be disappointed as there aren't too many improvements found here. You may spot a few new replay angles here and there, but the game doesn't up the ante as much as we saw in 2006's Germany World Cup game.
We definitely feel 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa is among the most accessible of games simply because of its international appeal and the amount of coverage the actual tournament gets here in the US. Casual soccer fans who may not be in line to buy FIFA each year definitely should give 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa a look as it simplifies the soccer experience unlike the traditional yearly FIFA effort.
David:
EA Sports has learned through its market research that its World Cup-branded FIFA titles tend to appeal to less hard-core video soccer players who are simply inspired by the World Cup to buy the game. Thus, EA tries to make it more accessible to novice players while not offending advanced types. An example of this option is the new two-button control scheme that simplifies the whole passing and shooting situation for those who aren't ready to deal with a layered control scheme.
The folks at EA told me the gameplay has been tweaked from the standard FIFA 2010 game. While I didn't notice much difference when I was playing--it remains one of the most realistic looking sports games out there--you're basically getting a preview of FIFA 2011, which comes out in October. That said, there are some big changes in penalty-kick taking that require some getting used to (I missed more than I made at first). Since penalty kicks are a big part of the World Cup once you get to the knockout rounds, it helps to get this right pretty quickly or you'll find yourself cursing your penalty takers and throwing your controller on the floor in frustration.
(Credit: Gamespot)
You get your Be a Pro style feature in the Captain Your Country mode, which has you starting out as a B-Team player and working your way up the ranks (you can play with three other friends, who can control different players on the same team). And the other real differences involve the online play--EA's billing this as the first-ever full and authentic FIFA World Cup online tournament. Also, to add a little corporate sponsorship flare, EA's teamed up with Coke for some new "exclusive" user-controlled post goal-scoring celebrations (you get codes from Coke products). I find these sort of tie-ins irritating but they seem to be becoming more common.
Just so everybody's clear, you don't get access to club teams from around the world. This one's all about the national teams (I do look forward to the final U.S. roster, which will surely be different from the roster that ships with game but can be updated). I played mostly with the U.S., which more often than not made it out of the first round but encountered trouble in the Round of 16, where it always seemed to be up against Germany. I will probably shift to Brazil pretty soon.
A lot of people are asking whether it's worth buying this title if you already own FIFA 2010 and I'd say it's hard to resist. While it's not a big leap forward by any means, there's enough here for FIFA addicts to dig into to go out and buy this thing.
What do you guys think? {#}
Jeff:
There's something special about EA's FIFA World Cup games. For the most part the action is relatively similar to FIFA 10, but perhaps it's the overall presentation and sense of realism that allow the game to assume its own identity.
Sure, there are a few new features in 2010 FIFA World Cup; you can now play the entire tournament online and there are some new penalties that get called during the action. A few trite coach cutaways aside, FIFA World Cup really does nail the feeling of excitement associated with the world's greatest sports tournament and is ultimately where the game shines the most.
(Credit: Gamespot)
Those looking for something completely unique from a gameplay standpoint may be disappointed as there aren't too many improvements found here. You may spot a few new replay angles here and there, but the game doesn't up the ante as much as we saw in 2006's Germany World Cup game.
We definitely feel 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa is among the most accessible of games simply because of its international appeal and the amount of coverage the actual tournament gets here in the US. Casual soccer fans who may not be in line to buy FIFA each year definitely should give 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa a look as it simplifies the soccer experience unlike the traditional yearly FIFA effort.
David:
EA Sports has learned through its market research that its World Cup-branded FIFA titles tend to appeal to less hard-core video soccer players who are simply inspired by the World Cup to buy the game. Thus, EA tries to make it more accessible to novice players while not offending advanced types. An example of this option is the new two-button control scheme that simplifies the whole passing and shooting situation for those who aren't ready to deal with a layered control scheme.
The folks at EA told me the gameplay has been tweaked from the standard FIFA 2010 game. While I didn't notice much difference when I was playing--it remains one of the most realistic looking sports games out there--you're basically getting a preview of FIFA 2011, which comes out in October. That said, there are some big changes in penalty-kick taking that require some getting used to (I missed more than I made at first). Since penalty kicks are a big part of the World Cup once you get to the knockout rounds, it helps to get this right pretty quickly or you'll find yourself cursing your penalty takers and throwing your controller on the floor in frustration.
(Credit: Gamespot)
You get your Be a Pro style feature in the Captain Your Country mode, which has you starting out as a B-Team player and working your way up the ranks (you can play with three other friends, who can control different players on the same team). And the other real differences involve the online play--EA's billing this as the first-ever full and authentic FIFA World Cup online tournament. Also, to add a little corporate sponsorship flare, EA's teamed up with Coke for some new "exclusive" user-controlled post goal-scoring celebrations (you get codes from Coke products). I find these sort of tie-ins irritating but they seem to be becoming more common.
Just so everybody's clear, you don't get access to club teams from around the world. This one's all about the national teams (I do look forward to the final U.S. roster, which will surely be different from the roster that ships with game but can be updated). I played mostly with the U.S., which more often than not made it out of the first round but encountered trouble in the Round of 16, where it always seemed to be up against Germany. I will probably shift to Brazil pretty soon.
A lot of people are asking whether it's worth buying this title if you already own FIFA 2010 and I'd say it's hard to resist. While it's not a big leap forward by any means, there's enough here for FIFA addicts to dig into to go out and buy this thing.
What do you guys think? {#}
Labels: FIFA, South Africa
posted @ 9:09 AM,
,
South Africa Challenges
Friday, April 9, 2010
By Gerald Imray, AP Sports Writer
World Cup organizing chief Danny Jordaan said Thursday South Africa still has challenges to meet just two months before the start of the tournament.
Security concerns following an upsurge in racial tensions and disappointing ticket sales are undermining the first African host's preparations for the World Cup.
"We've achieved a lot, we still have challenges," Jordaan said as the organizing committee reported that it was on track to deliver the tournament within budget.
When asked if organizers feared a violent reaction during the competition to the murder last weekend of right-wing leader Eugene Terreblanche, Jordaan said: "No, it's not going to happen."
There were already question marks over team and fan safety at the monthlong tournament before Terreblanche's murder brought South Africa's violent crime problem to the fore again.
FIFA and tournament organizers have said they will not comment on the case. FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke only addressed general security matters on Thursday.
"Whatever is happening, we are dealing with security and it's not public," Valcke said. "On security, we have done the maximum we can do."
On the readiness of the country to host the World Cup, Valcke said: "We are confident. We have been for a long time."
Valcke likened the last two months of preparation to a train ride, with no more stops between now and kickoff on June 11, and no way back.
"Whatever I'm hearing, whatever I'm reading, it's too late," Valcke said. "When you are organizing an event, you are waiting for the end, for the final, for July 12, where you can say, 'Gosh, it's over'."
Valcke said the former head of operations at Interpol had now joined FIFA as its security adviser but did not say if it was related to an increased security threat in South Africa.
South Africa's place in the international spotlight as host of one of the world's biggest sporting events has coincided with a number of recent race-related incidents which have cast the country in an unflattering light.
Terreblanche, a notorious white supremacist, was bludgeoned to death last Saturday near the town of Ventersdorp, northwest of Johannesburg. Police say he was killed by two black farm workers in a wage dispute but Terreblanche's Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging (AWB) group say the murder was linked to the singing of a revolutionary song by black youth leader Julius Malema.
There were confrontations between blacks and whites following Terreblanche's murder, and an AWB official stormed off a television debate Wednesday after arguing with and then threatening a black woman.
In the midst of this, the message from World Cup organizers is that the tournament will be safe and a success.
"The (World Cup) infrastructure is not just in place; it is world class." Jordaan said. "Our stadiums were ranked among the best in the world. We have 68 percent of our budget left to deliver the World Cup and we have completed the stadiums.
"We are in a good position to deliver the event, which we want to be world class."
Jordaan said this World Cup was about the people of the country embracing the event.
Organizers hope there is still both time and a desire for visitors to come to the country and boost disappointing ticket sales.
"Be South African and be a good host," Jordaan said to the home fans on the same day Malema, the president of the ANC's youth league, swore at and then asked security to remove a foreign journalist from a news conference at the ruling party's headquarters.
Jordaan would not comment on the incident, saying he did not know the details, but said: "All of us must act as good hosts."
On broader World Cup issues, Jordaan said "This country cannot cut itself off from the international community.
"The teams coming here, (Lionel) Messi is an international and so is (Cristiano) Ronaldo and so is Kaka. This World Cup must reintegrate South Africa as part of the global community."
Jordaan said the global economic climate -- not South Africa's reputation -- had affected ticket sales.
Foreign visitors are expected to fall well short of the 450,000 expected for the tournament, but organizers remain positive, saying ticket sales compared favorably with the same point in 2006 ahead of the World Cup in Germany.
Organizing committee chairman Irvin Khoza said he was confident that South Africa could overcome the world's skepticism ahead of the "biggest show on planet earth."
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Labels: South Africa
posted @ 10:50 AM,
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FIFA World Cup South Africa
Friday, April 2, 2010
Luckily, we've already seen subtle improvements that are sure to make their way over to FIFA 11. While the gameplay is virtually identical thus far, a huge emphasis has been put on recreating the atmosphere and drama of the biggest competition in the world for football fans. This is summed up with the inclusion of the new penalty system; a dual stick battle to outwit the goalkeeper, or indeed, break the striker's heart with their failed attempt. Timing is key here, as the speed and direction of your shot counts for nothing if you can't keep composed. Already in our time with the game, going to a penalty shoot-out after a hard-fought draw has been full of drama as goalkeepers have been pulling off incredible saves and world class players scream the ball against the crossbar as the pressure crushes their efficiency. It's dramatic, it's adrenaline-pumping, and it replicates the real situation with greater importance than before.
Another area that has been noticeably improved in FIFA World Cup 2010 is the atmosphere itself. As the World Cup is the grandest stage of them all, there's a huge difference in the all-singing, all-partying atmosphere that makes it such a special event. FIFA games have so far failed to recreate this, but this title is definitely trying to pull out all the stops. Fireworks rip through the impressive structure of the stadiums, a sea of confetti erupts across the field, and the commentators ramp up excitement by discussing just how important every fixture is. We're also treated to close-ups of the crowd, and their reactions to goals or the team entering the field. It's these minor tweaks that make FIFA World Cup 2010 different to the main release, as there's a sense of occasion about the title that FIFA 10 fails to maintain. The fact we can see the managers of each team toying with their next decision on the side of the pitch is an added bonus, and is something we hope they finally utilize outside of the international-only games.
For an early showing, there's a lot of positives in FIFA World Cup 2010. The ugly, over-shiny players of yesteryear have also been dealt a fatal blow, as player models are looking in better shape than ever. There's noticeable improvement and a hint of evolution here, as EA will surely see what does and does not work ready in time for FIFA 11 to hit stores. With this World Cup release only round the corner, its time to get over-excited, paint your national flag onto your face, and then slump deep into your seats when your team is knocked out by the mighty power of Djibouti.{#}
Labels: FIFA, Soccer, South Africa
posted @ 8:52 AM,
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World Cup Venues Ready
Saturday, March 27, 2010
South Africa declared it was "all systems go" Friday when it announced the 10 World Cup venues were ready for June's football tournament following a final FIFA inspection tour.
"We can say with confidence we have delivered on our promise of 10 world-class stadiums and delivered them months before the tournament even starts," local Organising Committee chief executive officer Danny Jordaan said Friday.
He was speaking at the end of the 10-day inspection of the venues across nine South African cities.
"We have certainly travelled a long road since the first stadium inspection tour in 2005. With each inspection we have seen the stadiums develop from an idea on a piece of paper in an architect's office to the magnificent football arenas that we see before us today."
Six new venues have been built for the month-long tournament and a further four renovated, with Jordaan saying it was "all systems go" for the opening match in Johannesburg on June 11.
He added the focus would now turn to "the final detail."
"No longer are we inspecting where a particular wall will be built but where team buses will park, ensuring that security arrangements are nailed down and making sure the fans will be provided with correct signage to take them to their seat," he said.
Organisers had to deal with years of media speculation that FIFA might move the tournament away from South Africa, as well as repeated concerns over accommodation, transport and security.
(Editing by Sonia Oxley)
Labels: FIFA, South Africa, World Cup
posted @ 10:18 AM,
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South Africa Ready for World Cup
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
South Africa is ready to host this year's World Cup, said a top official, countering what she described as "known and unknown sources that are hell-bent" on sullying the nation's image ahead of the massive sporting event.
Nomvula Paula Mokonyane, the premier of South Africa's powerful Gauteng province, rejected recent criticisms of South Africa, saying that negative reports about its readiness for the World Cup came from opposition politicians as well as journalists inside and outside the country. These people fail to recognize the progress that has put South Africa on par with previous hosts, according to the government official.
"Who is besmirching South Africa? We've got a number of South Africans doing that," she told a group of foreign reporters Tuesday. "We think we're on a world standard, like other places."
With only 79 days to go, South Africa is racing to ensure a smooth World Cup and allay concerns that could scare off soccer fans and tourists.
The monthlong event, to be held at venues around the country, is the first time an African nation has hosted the world soccer championship. But South Africa is struggling to complete roads and venues on time; set aside sufficient electricity for stadiums; tamp down violent crime and minimize potential terrorism threats.
Meanwhile, the Gauteng government is also dealing with disruptive protests over the lack of water and power in some outlying areas as well as strikes and shootings by informal mini-bus operators who oppose a new high-speed bus system. "We aren't concerned about protests— we are living in a vibrant multi-racial democracy," said Ms. Mokonyane. "The concern is when protests are accompanied by violence."
Coupled with the global economic downturn, such concerns pose challenges to ticket sales. After three of five sales phases, about two-thirds of the available tickets for the World Cup have been sold, according to global soccer body FIFA. Officials at FIFA have repeatedly expressed confidence in its World Cup host.
"Now it is time for the whole world to put its trust in South Africa's ability to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup," the organization's president, Joseph S. Blatter, said earlier this month.
The capital of Gauteng, Johannesburg, will be front-and-center during the World Cup. The city will host the opening and closing ceremonies as well as the first game June 11 and the championship July 11. It will also serve as the main point of entry for foreign tourists arriving in South Africa for the World Cup.
Gauteng province is home to mining conglomerates and banks, and accounts for about two-thirds of South Africa's economic output—as well as one tenth of Africa's total. Some government critics say the predominant role South African business plays in the country improves the prospects for a successful World Cup. The event's sponsors, building contractors and hotel operators are largely private and unburdened by government's problems with efficiency, says Moeletsi Mbeki, a businessman, author and the brother of former president Thabo Mbeki.
"The South African World Cup will be delivered by the private sector," he said.
Ms. Mokonyane, Gauteng's top official, said her government has assumed a central role in World Cup preparation. She's been fielding requests from backpacker groups eager to travel the country and Christian evangelists eager to speak to large crowds of soccer fans. She said the province has shown it can stage global sporting events in rugby and cricket, and isn't daunted by what awaits with the largest of them all: the World Cup.
"We sound very ambitious, but that's because we are a very ambitious nation," she said.
Write to Peter Wonacott at peter.wonacott@wsj.com
Labels: South Africa, World Cup
posted @ 9:51 PM,
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South African Security Plans
Saturday, March 6, 2010
FIFA president Sepp Blatter says he has confidence in South African security plans for the World Cup.
Blatter says South Africa proved in recent sporting contests, including last year's Confederations Cup, that it can stage the tournament successfully.
He spoke Friday after a two-day workshop that included World Cup organizing chief Danny Jordaan, team security and police representatives from 29 of the 32 nations playing in the tournament.
Interpol security chief Christopher Eaton said the coordination has been "exceptional" ahead of the June 11-July 11 tournament.
South Africa suffers from high crime, including one of the worst homicide rates in the world. {#}
Labels: Security, South Africa
posted @ 9:47 AM,
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FIFA's Cheap Tickets For South Africans
Monday, February 22, 2010
World football body FIFA said yesterday it has increased the number of cheapest World Cup tickets to get more South Africans into stadiums at Africa's first World Cup during June and July.
According to the Johannesburg Saturday Star, FIFA slashed the price of at least 30 per cent of category 2 and 3 tickets, which cost up to 840 rand (110 dollars/ 80 euros), to 140 rand.
"We made clear right from the start of ticketing that we aim to increase the number of Cat (category) 4 tickets to up to 20 percent," FIFA said in a statement yesterday. "This does not affect the already sold tickets."
FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke said this week that the football body was targeting 20 per cent ticket sales to South Africans.
"We will increase the number of category four tickets because we cannot have a situation where the FIFA World Cup is in South Africa and people cannot see matches," said Valcke.
FIFA yesterday said the recategorisation meant that more tickets will be allocated to the cheapest category out of the seats currently available. "It is not about dropping prices. The prices are not touched. The price for category 4 start at R140 for group games," the organisation said. "How many it will be is still to be decided in details."
A total of 2.1 million tickets of 2.9 available have been sold for the tournament with seats at only 24 of 64 fixtures remaining.
South Africans have bought 898,170 tickets, followed by 121,190 in the United States and 98,056 in the United Kingdom.
Local fans had expressed unhappiness about the high cost of tickets and the rigid online application process, which has resulted in low sales in the country.
FIFA chief Sepp Blatter said this week he was worried ticket prices were scaring away fans for the world's most watched sporting event and asked tour operators to cut costs to help fill South African stadiums.
Labels: South Africa, Tickets
posted @ 10:16 PM,
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Lack of Respect for Africa
Saturday, February 13, 2010
FIFA president Sepp Blatter has hit out at the critics who have commented on the security situation in South Africa, claiming that they have a lack of respect for Africa as a continent.
Blatter has made it clear that he believes Europe to be part of "the Old World" of prejudice as concerns over security and high travel and hotel costs become ever more apparent in the media.
"Every year 11 million tourists go to South Africa and nobody says they should not go there," he said. "It's a kind of anti-Africa prejudice. I think there is still in the so-called Old World a feeling that 'why the hell should Africa organise a World Cup'.''
Blatter also maintained that Europe is responsible for taking the best players out of the continent and blamed a lack of respect.
''Colonialists over the past 100 years have gone to Africa and taken out all the best things - and now they are taking all the best footballers. There's no respect," he added.
Some senior figures in the game have spoken out about South Africa's security concerns, with Uli Hoeness, the president of Bayern Munich, claiming the decision to give South Africa the World Cup was "the biggest wrong decision" FIFA has made and Phil Brown, the Hull City manager, stating that the terrorist attack on the Togo team put a question mark against this summer's finals.
However, Blatter said: "It is a nonsense to combine what has happened in Angola, a terrorist attack for political reasons, and mix it up with the World Cup in South Africa."
FIFA are concerned that the latest batch of 400,000 tickets, which are now on sale, will not all be claimed as the fears of European hard-core football fans over safety and costs grow. {# }
Labels: FIFA, South Africa
posted @ 11:00 AM,
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FIFA Fans in South Africa
Monday, January 4, 2010
Every South African is being asked what they are going to do to welcome the world to South Africa during the 2010 FIFA World Cup, according to the Daily News newspaper in the coastal city of Durban.
Danny Jordaan, the chief executive of FIFA's local organizing committee in South Africa, told the newspaper that for five years the country had worked hard to prepare for the World Cup.
Five of the 10 football stadiums for the tournament had been built from scratch and plans for the support infrastructure were on track.
"What is needed is greater public enthusiasm... the challenge now is to mobilise the nation," he said.
The country needed South Africans in their workplaces and their communities "to stand up and decide what they are doing to welcome the world ... every South African must ask: 'What am I doing to be a good host?' "
More than 15 000 volunteers from 52 countries would soon be selected and begin training to help the country deliver the games and host the multitudes of visitors, he said.
From now on people must "play their part" in ensuring that we "come together as one nation to deliver the best Fifa World Cup ever".
The successful hosting of the event was the responsibility of all South Africans.
"This is the year when as a nation we will open our doors, hearts and sporting spirits to the world. This is our time. This is our year."
Jordaan's spokesman, Rich Mkhondo, said: "There are many ways that people can help. Are they learning Spanish and French so that they can greet visitors? What about volunteering to be a marshal at a public viewing area?" .
Deputy mayor of Durban Logie Naidoo said that since the final draw at the beginning of December "you can already feel the excitement and vibe".
He was heartened by the fact that he had already seen multi-racial audiences at the Durban's massive Moses Mabhida Stadium.
"This is an indication that we are uniting as a nation around soccer and preparing for 2010."
Durban would be launching a publicity campaign to promote the event and the city, and South African Tourism would be holding a celebration at the 100-days-to-go mark (in March) "to get the whole country involved".
More than three million people will attend the 64 matches in the tournament, of whom 450 000 will be from overseas.
More than 300 broadcasters and 18 000 journalists will cover the games, which will be watched by a cumulative audience of 26 billion around the world. {#}
Labels: Fans, FIFA, South Africa
posted @ 8:40 AM,
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South African Prepration for FIFA World Cup
Saturday, January 2, 2010
South African authorities say they are ready to deal with the threat of a terror attack during the 2010 World Cup next summer.
Reassurances were made after aviation security at major airports and on airlines around the world was stepped up following the foiled Christmas Day bomb attack on a U.S. airliner. Some 450,000 football fans are expected to visit South Africa for the June 11 to July 11 tournament.
While South Africa is not a major terrorist target, national police spokesman Vish Naidoo said that "in view of the 31 other countries participating in the games there is the potential for the threat of a terror attack".
"To counter this we have launched proactive and reactive plans which include the intervention and the assistance of Interpol in the creation of databases of dangerous and disruptive persons,” he told the Pretoria News.
"These databases will include all persons involved in all forms of organised crime, ranging from terrorism to gun smuggling and hooliganism. No one whose name is on the database will be allowed into the country."
Naidoo also said many terrorist-simulation exercises had been conducted for various scenarios, including chemical, biological and radioactive attacks.
More than 50,000 security personnel are to be deployed during the World Cup, he added. The South African government is also in entering into agreements with participating countries, intelligence and law enforcement agencies to boost security planning.
He said security preparations started when the country was awarded the World Cup in 2004, insisting “if anyone asks us to host the competition tomorrow, from a security perspective, we are more than ready”.
Danny Jordaan, CEO of the World Cup organizers, has spent the past year offering reassurances over security and safety for players, officials and football fans at the first ever African World Cup.
He has emphasised time and again the country’s experience in hosting world-class sporting events including the rugby and cricket World Cups, which passed without major security incidents.
Naidoo said South Africa always planned “for any eventuality and don't need a wake-up call”.
Experts from South Africa’s Institute for Security Studies say terror attacks on the country could be mounted by local or internationally linked groups. Recently there have been rumours of the potential presence of Al Shabaab, a Somali youth militia group with supposed links in South Africa.
University of Pretoria criminologist Christiaan Bezuidenhout told the newspaper that the FBI had alerted South African authorities to the presence of people in the country who might be associated with terrorist cells. "The threats facing South Africa, which are very probable, are by both visible enemies using bombs and guns and by unseen attackers using cyber terrorism,” he said.
Written by Mark Bisson (mark@worldfootballinsider.com)
Labels: South Africa
posted @ 7:22 PM,
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