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PREPARING SOUTH AFRICA FOR THE WORLD |
Gary Mabbutt (MBE) played for Tottenham Hotspurs from 1982 until 1998. The team won the UEFA Cup in 1984 and the FA Cup in 1991. He also won 16 caps for England. Mabbutt who has diabetes became an icon for many children with the condition. He is a regular visitor to South Africa and he serves as a 2010 World Cup ambassador. He spoke to Project 2010 from the Kruger Park where he is enjoying a short holiday.  You are clearly very fond of South Africa. What's the story? I first came here in 1983 when we (Tottenham Hostspurs) played Manchester United in Swaziland and it was a real eye-opener. It was a strange time politically, but what struck me was the dignity of the people. Everywhere we drove we were greeted. Every single child was dressed smartly and I realised how proud they were, that this was something special. It made a big impression on me. You have been involved in the launch of the SOS Childrens Village in Rustenburg. What does this project mean for you? When South Africa won the bid to host the 2010 World Cup, a joint venture by FIFA and SOS Children's Villages determined that 100 orphaned and abandoned children would be housed. The campaign was launched in 2004 and now it has been completed. My old club (Tottenham Hotspurs) has also been actively involved and they have bought a house here. The only problem we've had is that a whole lot of memorabilia we brought out from the UK for the launch got blocked at customs - it's one of those things but we let a lot of people down. Nevertheless, it was a wonderful occasion and there was a lot of emotion. As a 2010 ambassador, you obviously have to deal with a lot of negativity about South Africa, particularly with regards to our crime problems. What is your take on this issue? I am the only European-based ambassador and the biggest frustration for me is all the Afro-pessimism. We've got to look at this responsibly. Sure, crime is a problem, but it is getting over-played wherever you look. It just doesn't warrant all this coverage. The reality is the crime situation is no worse than when South Africa was awarded the rights to host the tournament - in fact, it is improving. And the Government is training 30 000 new police officers specifically for the World Cup. South Africa's problems are not insurmountable. What will 2010 do for South Africa? This is the biggest advertisement any country could ever hope for and best of all it's free. For one month, the entire world will be focused on South Africa and the rest of the continent and they will remember it for years to come. All the foreign investment that left in the apartheid years and never came back could now be re-invested. The world will see what this country is capable of. more interviews...
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