2010 LOC open door for Wits' Blackensee to assume plum World cup job

The 2010 Local Organising Committee has opened the door for former Wits University CEO Derek Blanckensee to assume the role of Soccer City venue manager for the 2010 World Cup - while, at the same time, firmly closing the door on Port Elizabeth's Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium as a Confederations Cup venue.

With the opening and final of the World Cup due to be staged at Soccer City's FNB Stadium, Blanckensee scooped the pool when the LOC announced eight of the 10 key positions of Venue Manager for the 2010 tournament -with CEO Danny Jordaan describing the appointments as key to the ongoing policy of decentralising the administration of the global tournament.

Blanckensee will be Venue Manager at Ellis Park during next year's eight-nation Confederations Cup - with the uncompleted FNB Stadium not designated as a venue for this event - with the former Wits official then packing his bags and moving across Johannesburg to prepare for the World Cup tournament.

Apart from Blanckensee, other Venue Managers for the World Cup and Confederations Cup, where applicable, are: Safa executive member Mandla "Shoes" Mazibuko (Loftus Versveld); Teral Culen (Green Point Stadum); Mmbulaheni Kirsten Nematandani (Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane); Mpho Modisakeng (Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg); Achileus Charalambous (Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium); Bongi Hlope (Durban Stadium) and former Witbank Black Aces owner and Safa executve member Veli Mahlangu (Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit).

The positions of Free State Stadium Manager and Ellis Park - following the switch of Blanckensee to Soccer City - will be made by October.

At the same time, Jordaan shut the door on the attempts by local Port Elizabeth government and soccer officials to have the decision to remove the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium as a Confederations cup venue reversed.

"Deadlines were stretched beyond their limits to ensure Port Elizabeth would be ready for the Confederations Cup," added the LOC's CEO, "and finally we had to put our foot down and make the decision to remove the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium as a venue for next year's tournament.

However, Jordaan stressed this would not affect Port Elizabeth's status as a World Cup venue - "and I believe they will be the first of the new stadiums to be completed for 2010."

Sapa