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

FIFA

FIFA brings informal traders on board - 02/08/2009

In an effort to soften the impact of counterfeit merchandise ahead of the 2010 World Cup next year, FIFA has reminded street vendors and informal traders that there’s a platform to become official FIFA merchandisers. As a part of its plans for the tournament, informal traders and small businesses are being engaged about various business initiatives through the Master Licensee, Global Brands Group. Sunday World reports that FIFA says they are expecting an upsurge in counterfeit merchandise as the event draws closer. But the world soccer governing body is confident that the problem will be contained.

Full Sunday World report

Blatter puts his foot down - 01/08/2009

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has once again put his foot down by imploring SAFA to postpone their upcoming elections scheduled for September 26, arguing they have the potential to divide the team driving the 2010 World Cup, notes a report on the News24 site. Although President Jacob Zuma’s office could not be drawn into commenting about the elections which will pit 2010 chairperson Irvin Khoza against CEO Danny Jordaan – the main drivers of the upcoming showpiece – Zuma is said to be uncomfortable over the impending elections. Most SAFA delegates, including concerned members of the public, are also said to have begged president Molefi Oliphant to reschedule the elections until after next year’s big event.

Full report on the News24 site  

Obama may attend 2010 WC – 29/07/2009

US President Barack Obama has instructed his aides to see whether his schedule might accommodate a trip to the 2010 World Cup. That’s according to FIFA president Joseph Blatter, who met the US president at the White House in Washington earlier this week. The Daily Dispatch reports that Obama said during the meeting he hoped the international association that organises the soccer World Cup would ’give strong consideration’ to the United States’ bid to host it in 2018 or 2022. Blatter told Obama that as FIFA chief he had to stay ’neutral’ on the issue of bids – there are 11 contenders so far for the 2018 host country – though he added that Obama had appealed to him to ’make another move towards US soccer’.

Full Daily Dispatch report

Blatter visits Obama - 27/07/2009

FIFA President Sepp Blatter has concluded his four-day visit to the U.S. with an invitation to President Barack Obama to attend next year’s World Cup in South Africa. During his visit Blatter attended the final of the CONCACAF Gold Cup at Giants Stadium in New Jersey, which Mexico won with a 5-0 thrashing of the USA. According to a World Football Insider report, the fourth and final day of his itinerary featured a trip to the White House to see Obama. ’I know there are people around the president who are football fans, and that they will make everything possible in his agenda that the president be at the opening of the World Cup or the final,’ Blatter said.

Full World Football Insider report

Personal invitation for Obama – 26/07/2009

FIFA president Sepp Blatter plans to extend a personal invitation to President Barack Obama to attend the 2010 World Cup when the two meet at the White House on Monday. In an interview on Sunday, Blatter said the invitation has been extended and that he will "confirm it" at the meeting. "I know there are people around the president who are football fans, and that they will make everything possible in his agenda that the president be at the opening of the World Cup or the final," Blatter said. Blatter also plans to discuss the state of governing body US Soccer with the president, including the United States’ bids to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup.

Full report on the News24 site

FIFA takes action over WC stampede - 22/07/2009

FIFA has fined the Ivorian Football Federation $47,000 following the enquiry into the stadium tragedy where 20 fans died in Abidjan in March. Football’s world governing body imposed a series of safety measures after concluding the long investigation. BBC News reports that FIFA also announced a donation of $96,000 to a fund set up for the families of the victims. The safety measures will be in place for the Elephants’ next round of the 2010 World Cup qualifiers in September.

Full BBC News report

Blatter offers accommodation solution - 20/07/2009

FIFA president Sepp Blatter believes cruise ships could be the solution to the problem of a lack of hotel beds for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, notes a Sports24 report. ’Cruise ships, which offer places for around 2 000 people, could be brought there,’ said Blatter. However, the idea could only be a partial solution as Durban and Port Elizabeth are the only host cities that could accommodate such large ships and World Cup organisers are facing a shortfall of up to 15 000 beds.

Full Sports 24 report

More FIFA officials set to visit Zimbabwe – 19/07/2009

More FIFA senior officials are heading for Zimbabwe this week in an ongoing international relations exercise for Zimbabwean football ahead of the confirmed visit by the sport’s supremo Sepp Blatter before the 2010 World Cup. Xinhuanet reports that only last week, FIFA’s manager of the artificial turf program, Nigel Fletcher, and his companion Chris Fortuin from the body’s headquarters in Switzerland graced the country. The two were inspecting the pitch at Rufaro Stadium where FIFA supplied funds for the installation of artificial turf that has changed the face of the country’s most historic and popular football facility.

Full Xinhuanet report

A word of warning - 12/07/2009

Ian Franks, The Weekender: Everyone needs a little support, some of us more than others. Manchester United, for instance, are extremely proud that their fan base straddles the known world. While I’m mentioning fanatical behaviour I’d like to say ’2010’ and ’Fifa’, and dare I go as far as ’World Cup’? I just thought I’d get them in now because fairly soon the worldwide merchandising legal beavers will be descending on us and I won’t be able to use such provocative language again without shelling out a not-so-small fortune, until the final whistle has blown on the Fifa 2010 Football World Cup, there, I’ve said it again.

Full column in The Weekender

A word of warning - 12/07/2009

Full column in The Weekender

Titanic battle for leadership - 11/07/09

While presidents near and far are desperately, even violently, clinging to power, Molefi Oliphant, is meekly relinquishing his position as South African Football Association (Safa) president. The Mail & Guardian reports that this comes despite him being constitutionally eligible to take part in Safa’s presidential polls set for September. Chief executive Raymond Hack this week told the Mail & Guardian that there are no limits to the number of terms an individual can serve as president. Oliphant’s exit has given rise to a battle between Irvin “The Iron Duke” Khoza and Danny Jordaan, both prospective candidates for the post. The two most influential figures in South African football are becoming increasingly embroiled in an ugly, no-holds-barred battle for greater power.

Full Mail & Guardian report

FIFA: Confed Cup players passed drug tests - 08/07/09

Every one of the Confederations Cup soccer players screened for drugs has tested negative, FIFA said on Tuesday. ’A total of 131 urine and blood tests were conducted as part of the testing programme,’ FIFA said in a statement. It said the tests on all eight participating teams began out-of-competition, two months before the tournament started. ’Eight players per team were drawn, which meant that a total of 64 players were tested out-of-competition.’ During the competition, held from June 14 to June 28, two players a team were randomly selected for doping control at all 16 matches.

Full report on the IOL site

FIFA terms ‘are a problem for small hotels’ - 08/07/09

Onerous conditions imposed by Match, the Fifa agency tasked with securing 55000 rooms for the 2010 Soccer World Cup, remained a problem for small hotel operators, Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk said this week. The minister said that with more than a 100000 graded rooms in SA, the country had more than enough accommodation for next year’s tournament, but many small operators were reluctant to sign over their stock to Match as they were unhappy with the contract conditions. ’The industry has raised concerns about the price level offered by Match as well as its escape clause,’ Van Schalkwyk said in an interview.

Full Business Day report  

New 2010 scam uncovered - 07/07/09

A new 2010 scam believed to be targeting overseas businesses has been uncovered by an American businessman who was himself nearly conned out of several thousand US dollars. Ron Koning, chief executive of Global Software Applications, an IT installation company in Pennsylvania, was contacted months ago by a man claiming to be Irvin Khoza, chairperson of the local organising committee, to provide 500 indoor directional (way finding) touch-screen kiosks for the event. According to a report on the IOL site, Koning was apparently asked by the man to draw up a proposal for a multimillion-dollar World Cup contract, including costs, which he did.

Full report on the IOL site

FIFA may stop Durban July in its tracks -

Draconian FIFA rules, barring any big event taking place during World Cup month in a host city, could see the Durban July delayed by three weeks in 2010. The Mercury reports that the race, which has been held on the first Saturday of July every year since 1886, could be moved to the end of the month if FIFA enforces a wide-ranging contractual agreement signed with host cities. Racing authorities in KwaZulu-Natal will meet on Thursday to discuss the fate of the 2010 race, which has never been cancelled or delayed, despite two world wars and economic and political upheaval. Also under question are rugby Tests against France and Italy scheduled for Absa Stadium.

Full report in The Mercury

Blatter to visit Zimbabwe - 01/07/2009

Zimbabwe’s hopes of reaping huge benefits from the 2010 World Cup could be boosted by a high-profile visit to this country by FIFA president Sepp Blatter in the countdown to the historic tournament in South Africa. The Herald reports that a visit by Blatter will just be the seal of approval for other countries to appreciate that Zimbabwe remains a safe haven to be included in their itinerary when they come down to South Africa in 2010. The government has been preaching a solid message to the globe, inviting teams and fans to visit this country, as part of their 2010 World Cup show, which will help boost the nation’s tourism receipts.

Full report in The Herald

Blatter gives SA 7.5 out of 10 - 29/06/2009

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has given South Africa a 7,5 out of 10 rating for its organisation of the Confederations Cup, a test event for the World Cup next year. Delivering his verdict on the eight-nation event a day after the tournament ended in victory for defending champions Brazil, Blatter said: ’I am happy. We know on logistics we will have to work on it,’ he said, ’but we are on the positive side.’ According to a Mail & Guardian Online report, Blatter singled out the hospitality of South Africans, which he described as ’really remarkable’ and the enthusiastic support of South Africans for the tournament for particular praise.

Full Mail & Guardian Online report

Increased confidence in SA - 28/06/2009

The most influential person in world football, FIFA president Sepp Blatter says that at the moment he cannot be Swiss, but African. Not that he’s got any African blood running through his veins, but he has the continent’s football interests at heart and his backing for Africa’s course of holding a successful World Cup in 2010, remains firm. Convinced by the successful hosting of the Confederations Cup, Blatter expressed confidence in the country’s ability to host the World Cup. Sunday World reports that Blatter was complimentary of Bafana Bafana’s performance in the tournament. ’Bafana started hesitantly but picked up with every game. Well done to the team and to the general performance of all teams,’ he said.

Full Sunday World report

High praise for Blatter - 24/06/2009

FIFA president Sepp Blatter was showered with accolades for his unwavering support for a successful 2010 World Cup in this country. The Sowetan reports that Irvin Khoza, Local Organising Committee chairperson, said South Africans, and Africans in general, were inspired by Blatter’s courage, leadership and vision. Khoza was speaking in Vanderbijlpark at the opening of the historic 2009 Football for Hope Forum, the first of its kind in world soccer circles. Khoza said the 2010 World Cup ’will be different because we are all together with the leading role of FIFA and streetfootball.com, committed to leaving an enduring legacy, not just of the professional game and its economic and sports opportunities’.

Full report in the Sowetan

Valcke negotiating suite deal - 24/06/2009

Jerome Valcke, FIFA’s secretary-general, is negotiating with suite holders at the Confederations Cup match venues to also open the areas for soccer. The Sowetan reports that this comes after thousands of passionate South African soccer followers complained that most of the suites at the stadiums were not used for soccer. The fans’ argument is that all the suites are open during rugby games. Valcke said FIFA had also asked its commercial partners to return match tickets if they were not using them.

Full report in The Sowetan

After 2010, then what? - 24/06/2009

FIFA are in discussion with the South African authorities to ensure that World Cup match venues do not become white elephants post-2010. The Sowetan reports that this was announced by Jerome Valcke, FIFA secretary general, following a meeting with Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe. ’We agreed that we have to work not only with the PSL but also with SAFA. The use of the infrastructure must benefit the communities. We don’t want them to become white elephants after the World Cup in 2010,’ he said. ’The deputy president is also very concerned. The South African authorities want to see all the stadiums being used after 2010.’

Full report in The Sowetan

Accommodation shortages a worry for Blatter - 23/06/2009

A shortage of accommodation, particularly in some of the smaller 2010 host cities, such as Bloemfontein, had emerged as FIFA president Sepp Blatter’s main concern ahead of the international football tournament, which will kick off in June next year. Blatter stressed, however, that he was not ’looking for problems, only solutions’, and that various options were being interrogated to deal with the accommodation challenge. According to a Polity report, he hinted to the berthing of passenger ships off Durban, Cape Town and Port Elizabeth to deal with shortages in those coastal cities, noting that Greece’s capital Athens had shown this to be a viable alternative during that city’s hosting of the Olympic Games in 2004, as Barcelona, in Spain, had proved previously.

Full Polity report

Give Africa a chance – Blatter – 23/06/2009

The world must give Africa a chance to show its ability to host major international events through the 2010 World Cup, which will be a great one. The Sowetan reports that this was the message delivered by Sepp Blatter, the FIFA president. ’Trust Africa, they will deliver a great tournament in 2010. People don’t trust Africa and it’s wrong. Africa has given so much to the world, not only in football,’ said Blatter. ’Even our (FIFA)commercial partners believe that this World Cup will be a success. It is a moral responsibility that we (FIFA) do it for the African continent. Blatter said Africa always had a candidate bidding for the World Cup, adding that the rotation system was a perfect opportunity for FIFA to plough back to the mother continent.

Full report in The Sowetan

An ’eight out of 10’ for SA - 23/05/2009

The FIFA bigwigs have put their heads together and given South Africa an ’eight out of 10’ for the hosting of the Confederations Cup. Peel away the spin and that probably translates into a six out of 10, which is not flattering. The Times reports that South Africa’s soccer-mad public have shown up in their tens of thousands for games and they have blasted the vuvuzela onto the world football stage with ear-splitting enthusiasm. But there have been problems, and they should be faced squarely and dealt with. There have been many complaints about transport - especially from games back to the park-and-ride facilities. More than one fan has had his evening ruined by hours of waiting while aggressive crowds rock buses and break queues.

Full report in The Times

Blatter backs the vuvuzela - 22/06/2009

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has reiterated that under no circumstances will vuvuzelas be banned at the 2010 Soccer World Cup. Foreign media and teams competing in the Confederations Cup have complained about the ’buzzing noise’ that irritates them when fans blow the unique South Africa ’horn’ at matches. In showing his support for the vuvuzelas, Blatter said: ’Banning them, no. In fact I will blow one of the vuvuzelas at my press conference in Johannesburg on Friday.

Full report on the Sport24 site

SA capable of hosting a successful WC - 22/06/2009

’There’s lots of improvement needed. But the few hiccups we’ve had are not insurmountable and they will be sorted.’ These are the words of the spokesman for the 2010 LOC, Rich Mkhondo, on South Africa’s readiness to host the football extravaganza, a week into the Confederations Cup. The tournament, a dress rehearsal for 2010, has highlighted concerns about security, transport and industrial action. The Times reports that these problems are set to top the agenda at a media round table with FIFA president Sepp Blatter. But the first leg of the Confederations Cup has also shown what South Africa is capable of.

Full report in The Times

Durban stadium under the spotlight - 21/06/2009

Last weekend FIFA president Sepp Blatter said the 2010 World Cup would be the biggest event ever to take place in Africa - and it was unlikely that the Olympic Games would come to this continent. The Sunday Tribune reports that while Blatter is the head honcho for the round-ball game, he is also on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and was speaking with his IOC hat on, metaphorically at least. ’If the Olympic Games are not going into a rotation, then I do not see how the Olympic Games can come to Africa,’ said Blatter. ’That is my view as a member of the IOC.’ Now, Durban has long been talking up its potential as an Olympic host and has spent a lot of time justifying the R3.5 billion cost of the Moses Mabhida Stadium. So, if the stadium is only going to host seven World Cup matches in 2010, we’re looking at a construction with a cost of R500 million a game.

Full Sunday Tribune report

South Africa ready for World Cup - Blatter - 21/06/2009

South Africa is ready host the 2010 World Cup, FIFA president Joseph Blatter said on Saturday. ’ am proud - and South Africa can be proud - that the technical premises will be ready: There is no doubt about it,’ Blatter told South Africa’s SABC 1 channel. According to a report on the IOL site, the head of football’s ruling body said he had been overwhelmed by the welcome he had received from football fans and was looking forward to the main event next year. ’There was so much emotion at the opening ceremony. I couldn’t speak, because when I started to speak, they (the fans) applauded. Even the critical European press said, Sepp Blatter has never been received as he was in South Africa.’

Full report on the IOL site

Vuvuzelas here to stay - 18/06/2009

FIFA have no plans to ban or stop South African fans from blowing noisy vuvuzelas at the Confederations Cup or next June when South Africa host the 2010 World Cup finals. According to a report on the iafrica.com site, that was the word from FIFA president Sepp Blatter speaking at a special media briefing ahead of the crunch Confederations Cup Group A clash between Bafana and New Zealand at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium on Wednesday night. In reply to a fed up Dutch journalist who complained about the ’terrible noise’ that the unique South African vuvuzelas make and suggested that they should be banned, the FIFA president smiled and said he agreed that the ’trumpet" used by local fans was a noisy instrument. ’But,’ he added, ’That is what African and South Africa football is all about - noise, excitement, dancing, shouting and enjoyment. This is a celebration.’

Full report on the iafrica.com site

TV monitors banned - Blatter - 18/06/2009

Television monitors will no longer be allowed alongside the pitch at the Confederations Cup following Brazil’s controversial winning penalty against Egypt. Fifa president Sepp Blatter announced the ban here on Thursday ahead of Brazil’s 3-0 victory over the United States. ’There is no more video in front of the fourth official on the side of the field so no one can say there is any interference in any decisions on the basis of video,’ he told a press conference. Fifa acted after Egypt complained about a penalty decision by English referee Howard Webb that cost them the match in the 4-3 loss to Brazil on Sunday.

Full Straits Times report