PROJECT 2010 - Preparing South Africa for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™

Project 2010 - A Twenty Ten Media and Marketing Initiative

PREPARING SOUTH AFRICA FOR THE WORLD

Africa

Nigeria: Players missing from CAF Awards list – 08/11/2010

Nigeria’s disappointing performance at both the Africa Cup of Nations and World Cup continues to haunt the players as none were nominated for the 2010 African Player of the year Award. Supersport reports that the only Super Eagles player listed was Michael Eneramo, one of five players nominated for the Africa-based Player of the Year Award.

Full Supersport report

Ghana: WC participation cost $7.2m – 05/11/2010

A little under $7.2m was spent during Ghana’s campaign at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa according to Sports minister Akua Sena Dansua. Soccer Net reports that the amount does not include the money spent by government to send over 1000 Ghanaians to support the Black Stars in South Africa. The parliamentary ranking member of Sports Isaac Asiamah is calling on the house per its standing orders to constitute a special audit committee to further interrogate the minister’s report so as to know the beneficiaries of the monies spent.

Full Soccer Net report

Togo: FIFA threatens suspension – 12/10/2010

Togo were threatened with an international ban unless their soccer federation holds elections by early next month. The Times report that the announcement by soccer’s governing body FIFA came less than a month after it was discovered that a ’fake’ Togo side took part in an international friendly against Bahrain. FIFA said that it had accepted a request from the Togolese federation (FTF) to extend the deadline for elections until Nov. 6, but said no further extensions would be granted.

Full report in The Times

Uganda: WC blasts under the spotlight – 09/10/2010

If Ugandan police investigators are right, the size of the conspiracy behind the twin bombings during the 2010 World Cup finals could hardly have been bigger. Ugandan police - with help from the FBI and Kenyan police - have arrested 36 people from seven countries in the wake of blasts that rocked Uganda’s capital, killing 76 people. The suspects hail from at least three countries with known terror links: Somalia, Yemen and Pakistan. At least one suspect said he was recruited and trained by al-Qaida.

Full CBS News report

Nigeria: FIFA issues world ban – 05/10/2010issues

FIFA has suspended Nigeria from international competition because of government interference in the sport. The decision was taken after several members of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) were hauled before the law courts. FIFA rules prohibit any government intervention with its members. Nigeria’s ban from international football leaves their weekend’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Guinea in Conakry in doubt.

Full BBC News report

Uganda/Kenya: Calls for activists to be released – 29/09/2010

Uganda should release a Kenyan human rights activist facing terrorism and murder charges in connection with a bomb attack on Kampala or serve him with details of those charges, two rights groups said. According to a report on the News24 site, Al-Amin Kimathi, who heads the Muslim Human Rights Forum in neighbouring Kenya, was arrested in the Ugandan capital on September 15 after travelling to the east African country to witness court hearings of Kenyan suspects extradited to Uganda. Twin bomb blasts ripped through crowds watching the soccer World Cup final on July 11 in Kampala killing 79 people and wounding several dozen.

Full report on the News24 site

Uganda: Journalist’s spouse linked to blast probe – 06/09/2010

A Mombasa-based FM radio presenter’s wife has been picked up by police hours after her husband was arrested over the Kampala terrorist bombings on 11 July, notes a Daily Nation report. Police went to Habib Suleiman’s house in Majengo, Mombasa, and seized his wife, Hawa Ibrahim. Suleiman is said to have been taken away by detectives on Saturday in Nairobi as he travelled to the coastal city by bus. At least 76 people who had frequented two restaurants in the Ugandan capital to watch the World Cup final match between Spain and the Netherlands were killed when the blasts went off.

Full Daily Nation report

Zimbabwe: Forum slams end of special dispensation – 03/09/2010of

A special deal granted to thousands of Zimbabweans, who were allowed to enter SA without documents, will stop at the end of year, said Cabinet spokesperson. The special dispensation was introduced in April last year during political instability in Zimbabwe, where an economic meltdown blamed on President Robert Mugabe’s policies saw hundreds of thousands flee to SA. The decision is a ’kick between the legs’ for Zimbabweans, according to Gabriel Sumba, of the Zimbabwe Exiles’ Forum, in a report in Beeld. ’It is a kick between the legs for every Zimbabwean who brought his skills to SA and helped build the stadiums and roads for the World Cup,’ he said.

Full Beeld report

Uganda: Two more charged for WC blasts – 03/09/2010

A Ugandan court has charged two additional suspects in connection with the July bomb blasts that killed 76 people, notes a report on the News24 site. The charges bring the total number of suspects to 34. The two men were charged with 89 offences which include 3 terrorism charges, 76 charges of murder and 10 attempted murder charges. The al-Qaeda-linked Somali militant group al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the July 11 bombings in two locations in Uganda’s capital during the soccer World Cup final.

Full report on the News24 site

Two more charged for WC blasts – 03/09/2010

Full report on the News24 site

Zimbabwe: Man jailed over vuvuzela fight – 27/08/2010

An 18-year-old Zimbabwean who caused the loss of another man’s eye in a fight over a vuvuzela was jailed for a year, notes a report on the News24 site. The magistrate suspended a third of an 18-month sentence on Curtis Ager on condition that he reimburses his victim’s $800 medical bill. Ager and two associates attacked the victim at his home in Bulawayo after he refused to give up a vuvuzela that the three claimed belonged to a friend. The vuvuzela was the defining sound for the 2010 World Cup while in Zimbabwe it is popular among viewers on the streets and at fan parks.

Full report on the News24 site

Ghana: LOC express gratitude to GFA – 27/08/2010

The 2010 World Cup LOC has expressed its appreciation to the President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) Kwesi Nyantakyi and the entire sport body for Ghana’s participation at the World Cup finals. nGhana’s Black Stars were one of the 32 finalists at the competition and finished at the last-eight stage, notes a Peace FM report. The LOC were happy with the contributions made by the Ghanaian sport body which contributed to the tournament’s success.

Full Peace FM report

Uganda: 32 arrests for WC bombing – 18/08/2010

Ugandan officials say 32 people have now been charged in connection with the July bomb blasts that killed 76 people. State attorney Joan Kagezi said Tuesday the suspects include nationals of Kenya, Somalia and Uganda. According to a report on the IOL site, Kagezi says four of the suspects have confessed. She says the suspects will have a hearing September 2 but did not say when their trials might begin. The al-Qaida-linked Somali militant group al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the July 11 bombings in two locations in Uganda’s capital during the World Cup final.

Full report on the IOL site

Angola: Four jailed for Africa Cup attack – 03/08/2010

An Angolan court jailed four activists over links to a militant group which carried out a deadly gun attack on Togo’s football team during the Africa Cup of Nations in January. According to a report on the News24 site, the court in the restive northern enclave of Cabinda found the four guilty of crimes against state security, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW) and relatives of the activists. ’This is clearly a lost opportunity to restore justice in Angola, and particularly in Cabinda,’ said Lisa Rimli, researcher for the Africa division at New York-based HRW.

Full report on the News24 site

Uganda: Deadly blasts targets World Cup fans - 12/07/2010

Bomb explosions that tore through two bars in the Ugandan capital on Sunday night killed at least 64 people and wounded 65 others. The blasts went off as crowds of football fans were watching the World Cup finals in an Ethiopian restaurant on the southern outskirts of Kampala and a rugby club in the east of the city. Police chief Kale Kayihura said the explosions could be linked to recent threats by Somalia’s Al-Qaeda-inspired Shebab militia to countries that have sent troops to the African Union peace force there.

Full report on the News24 site

Ghana: Warm welcome for Black Stars - 06/07/2010

Ghanaians turned out in their thousands to cheer their soccer team’s arrival home, spraying their jet with water cannons and rolling out the red carpet for the World Cup’s surprise quarter-finalists, notes a report on the IoL site. The ’Black Stars’ matched pioneers Cameroon (1990) and Senegal (2002) in reaching the last eight, but spurned a golden chance to become Africa’s first semi-finalists when they squandered a last-minute spot-kick against Uruguay.

Full report on the IOL site

Nigeria: FIFA reverses ban - 05/07/2010

Nigeria’s president lifted a ban on its soccer team playing in international competitions after the football federation (NFF) said it would disband and rebuild the side, notes a report on the IoL site. ’The NFF assured the president of their commitment to evolving an enduring football development programme, and grow a new senior national team that will bring glory rather than consistent embarrassment to Nigeria on the world stage,’ the presidency said in a statement.

Full report on the IOL site

Ghana: Locals prepare for heroes’ welcome - 05/07/2010

Ghana President John Atta Mills called for the Black Stars to be given a heroes’ welcome when they return home from the 2010 World Cup, where they bowed out at the quarterfinal stage. ’The defeat was heart-wrenching, but we have to be proud of the honour that our national team has accomplished,’ said Mills ahead of the return of the national football team.

Full report on the IoL site

Nigeria: Moves to avoid FIFA ban - 05/07/2010

Nigeria’s FA have sacked two of their top brass in a bid to avoid a FIFA ban. The FA said president Sani Lulu and vice-president Amanze Ugbulam had both gone and begged the nation’s leader Goodluck Jonathan to reconsider refusing to allow the side to play any more internationals over their 2010 World Cup flop. FIFA are threatening to suspend Nigeria because of political interference if President Jonathan does not back down.

Full report in The Sun

DRC: Villagers killed in blast watching WC - 03/07/2010

Excitement turned to horror for football fans gathered to watch the World Cup, as they were among hundreds killed in a fire from a fuel truck explosion in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The flames from the explosion spread rapidly to the local cinema hall where ’a big crowd was gathered to watch the Brazil/Netherlands match that had just finished and they were waiting for the Ghana/Uruguay clash,’ said Tondo Sahizira, a 28-year-old teacher.

Full report on the News24 site

Nigeria: 48 hours ultimatum set - 02/07/2010

FIFA issued Nigeria with an ultimatum to reverse their decision to suspend the national football team from international competition or have their Fifa membership suspended within 48 hours, notes a report on the IoL site. Fifa secretary-general Jerome Valcke said: ’If the Nigerian government is not moving back we will have to suspend Nigeria.’ ’The decision will be made in the next 48 hours," he added.

Full report on the IOL site

Nigeria: President suspends football team for 2 years - 30/06/2010

Nigeria President Goodluck Jonathan has suspended the national soccer team from international competition for the next two years following their poor performance in the World Cup, a senior adviser said. ’Mr President has directed that Nigeria will withdraw from all international football competition for the next two years to enable Nigeria to reorganise its football,’ Ima Niboro, a special adviser to Goodluck Jonathan, told reporters. ’This directive became necessary following Nigeria’s poor performance in the ongoing 2010 World Cup.’ Nigeria were knocked out in the first round.

Full report on the IOL site

Ghana: An opportunity to make history - 30/06/2010

Ghana, uplifted by the enthusiasm of an entire one-billion-strong continent, will be bidding to become the first African nation to reach the semifinals of the World Cup when they play Uruguay at Soccer City on Friday, notes a Mail & Guardian report. Ghana’s Black Stars are the lone flag-waver for Africa in the first World Cup staged on the continent and there is an emotional outpouring of support for them against one-time football powers Uruguay.

Full report on the Mail and Guardian site

Zimbabwe: Power woes spoil WC party – 25/06/2010

The family were on the edge of their seats, cheering on their World Cup heroes, when the television screen went blank in their Harare home, silencing the commentator and buzz of the vuvuzela. ’They could have spared us the power cuts just for this month,’ said an exasperated Tafadzwa Goliati. ’The World Cup only comes once every four years.’ FIN24 reports that erratic power supplies have long been an accepted part of life in Zimbabwe but football fans had hoped the month-long tournament in neighbouring South Africa would provide some brief respite.

Full FIN24 report FIN24

Uganda: President urges people to ignore WC – 23/06/2010

Uganda’s head of state, Yoweri Museveni, is urging his people to ignore the 2010 World Cup, advising them to instead concentrate on income-generating activities. The Times reports that President Museveni says he was invited to attend the tournament’s opening ceremony but declined, instead suggesting parents should tell their children not to ’waste time’ watching the matches, the Daily Monitor reported.

Full report in The Times

Angola: Africa Cup shooters on trial - 23/06/2010

Four Angolan human rights activists went on trial this week for ’crimes against state security’ over the deadly shooting attack on Togo’s football team in January. According to a report on the News24 site, the shooting by separatist rebels in the oil-rich province of Cabinda killed two members of Togo’s squad as they entered to compete in the Africa Cup of Nations. Rights groups have accused the government of using the rebel attack to justify arrests of its critics.

Full report on the News24 site report

Nigeria: Major cash incentive on the cards– 21/06/2010

Nigeria’s players have been promised $30 000 each if they beat South Korea on Tuesday and qualify for the Round of 16 of the 2010 World Cup, top team officials have said. Despite having lost their first two matches victory for Nigeria in its win-or-bust Group B match in Durban, coupled with an Argentina win over Greece, would propel the Super Eagles to the knockout stage of the tournament.

Full SuperSport report

Rwanda: Soccer boss arrested for attending WC - 11/06/2010

Rwanda has arrested the head of the national football federation, a senior army officer, for trying to attend the World Cup without seeking permission from his military superiors, an army spokesman said on Friday. Brigadier General Jean Bosco Kazura, a former top security advisor to Rwandan President Paul Kagame, travelled to South Africa earlier in the week but was recalled and arrested on Wednesday.

Full report on the IOL site

Zimbabwe: New farm invasions ahead of WC - 03/06/2010

White farmers and their lawyers are struggling with a new wave of violent invasions of what is left of the embattled community’s farms, agricultural union officials said. Arrests, abductions and illegal seizures of land in the last two weeks have come in spite of reported undertakings by President Robert Mugabe to South African president Jacob Zuma not to allow lawlessness that could disturb the smooth running of the World Cup in Zimbabwe’s neighbour.

Full report on the IOL site

WC will prompt ’African Renaissance’ – 27/05/2010

The 2010 WC presents South Africa and the rest of the continent with an opportunity to harness the power of an international event and project Africa’s potential for peace and development, a United Nations envoy said. ’The World Cup in South Africa is a unique occasion to transform the African people’s pride and enthusiasm into a positive dynamic of solidarity, tolerance, and development,’ said Wilfried Lemke, the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Sport for Development and Peace. He added, ’Mega-sports events create legacies such as infrastructure and tourism. This World Cup when successful will also contribute to the confidence and pride of many persons and States in Africa.’

Full report on the allAfrica site