South Africa: SA's 2010 Preparations Impress Former Host
Official
Themba Gadebe, Johannesburg
A German official whose organisation successfully branded Germany during
the 2006 FIFA World Cup is impressed about South Africa's progress in
preparation for 2010.
Mike de Vries, Managing Director of "Germany - Land of ideas"
is hailed for having managed to change the international community's perceptions
of Germany through the 2006 World Cup.
South Africa and the Africa Union view the World Cup as the opportunity
of a lifetime to provide long-lasting infrastructure through Legacy Projects
and change negative international perceptions about the continent.
Mr de Vries told BuaNews Monday that he was impressed with the progress
South Africa had made to deliver a successful world cup.
"We are here to share our experiences. South Africa needs international
support but I'm very impressed about the progress made so far in the last
twelve months," he said.
Mr de Vries is in the country together with two top German players, Piotr
Trochowski and Philipp Lahm, touring two stadia, one of which will host
the final match of the 2010 games, namely Soccer City.
Construction is currently underway there.
Mr de Vries told the media that the 2010 FIFA World Cup presented enormous
opportunities to the country.
"We managed to make Germans proud of their country. We also got foreigners
to look differently at our country. They now see us as efficient and friendly.
"You can do the same and our visit here is to underline our confidence
in your ability," he said.
Speaking to BuaNews via an interpreter, Germany's lethal defender, Lahm
said he was confident South Africa was going to deliver a successful world
Cup.
"You can see work has started. I believe construction would be ready
for the 2010 world cup, and I'm looking forward to be part of that tournament,"
he said.
Mr Lahm is considered one of the best young fullbacks in the world. He
was nominated for the FIFA World Cup Player of the Year 2006 following
his exceptional flair and style.
One of his highlights in the duration of the 2006 world cup was his opening
of an account by scoring the opening goal of the world spectacular tournament,
a moment he acknowledged with a smile while also admiring Sibusiso Zuma,
striker for South Africa's national team, Bafana Bafana.
Mr Zuma is currently playing club football in Germany.
Also expected to join the two stars is Owen Hargreaves who missed his
flight and failed to make it to the tour.
He is expected to land in South Africa on Tuesday.
The visit by the trio is organised by the International Marketing Council
(IMC) which is responsible for branding the country in consultation with
"Germany - Land of ideas."
The players are expected to be here until 16 June, during which they will
be involved in charity work including soccer clinics.
Kheepe Moremi, Marketing Director of the IMC said Germany hosted the most
successful World Cup to date, and added that South Africa is ahead of
its preparations even when compared to Germany's timeline ahead of the
2006 soccer spectacular.
"This gives us the confidence to say that our aim is to do even better
than the Germans," the Marketing Director said.
This visit comes ahead of their highly anticipated tour by FIFA President
Sepp Blatter in Cape Town on 18 June where he will meet with various stakeholders
involved with the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
World Cup fixtures will be played in ten stadia across the country.
Five venues are being renovated to comply with FIFA's requirements and
five others are to be built from scratch.
Construction has started on all the five arenas to be newly built.
Renovations to four of the stadiums set to host 2010 fixtures would be
complete by December 2008.
Along with Loftus Stadium in the capital city, the other arenas to be
refurbished are Vodacom Park in Mangaung, Royal Bafokeng in Rustenburg
and Ellis Park in Johannesburg.
Stadia to be completed by October 2009, are Mbombela in Nelspruit, Peter
Mokaba (Polokwane), Nelson Mandela Bay, Green Point (Cape Town) Moses
Mabhida (Durban) and Soccer City in Johannesburg.
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