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'Everything on track' for 2010 World Cup

Article Published: Thursday 21 June 2007

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Cape Town - Everything is on track with preparations to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said on Tuesday.

Speaking in the gardens of the presidential offices of Tuynhuys after talks with President Thabo Mbeki, Mr Blatter said he had earlier met with members of South Africa's Local Organising Committee - including Irvin Khoza and Danny Jordaan - and had seen "how they work and how they are going forward".

He had also seen the plans for 2010, and that they were on the right track with regards to the building of the stadia.

Mr Blatter was accompanied by the President of the Confederation of African Football, Issa Hayatou, a Cameroonian national, who is also heading FIFA's own organising committee for 2010.

President Mbeki introduced the two FIFA members to the press as "two fellow Africans".

He said Mr Blatter had already inspected South Africa's flagship stadium for the event at Soccer City in Gauteng.

"I think it is very good to have this continuous focus on what we are doing ... and that FIFA make their own assessment," said President Mbeki.

Also present at the talks were Minister in the Presidency, Essop Pahad, Deputy Finance Minister Jabu Moleketi, Deputy Minister of Sport Gert Oosthuizen and South African local organising committee Chief Executive Officer Danny Jordaan.

Mr Blatter had earlier addressed a workshop on economic opportunities for small and medium sized enterprises in relation to the hosting of the 2010 tournament.

He then headed to the building site at Green Point Stadium, where he met Western Cape Premier Ebrahim Rasool and Cape Town Mayor Helen Zille during an inspection on the progress of the construction of the stadium.

He said he wanted to tell them that he believed in the capacity of Cape Town and the mayor to have the stadium ready on time.

"We are on track and I'm happy," said Mr Blatter, summing up his experiences of South Africa's progress towards hosting 2010.

He added that on 18July there is to be a special football match held in Cape Town to celebrate the 89th birthday of former president Nelson Mandela.

"(Mandela) is already a monument and a humanist; he has written the history of humanity," said Mr Blatter, adding that several football stars - including Ronaldo - will be participating in the international match to mark Mandela's birthday.

He added that he expected Bafana Bafana to field a good team, joking that they are "for the time being the only team qualified for the 2010 World Cup".

As host to the event South Africa's national team automatically qualifies.

Less than two weeks ago, City of Cape Town 2010 spokesperson Pieter Cronje said construction at the Cape Town stadium was five weeks ahead of schedule.

He added that the R2,857 billion stadium is to host nine matches including a semi-final.
 
- By Shaun Benton BuaNew




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