SA wins praises ahead of World Cup

| Friday June 26, 2009 00:00

JOHANNESBURG: When FIFA president, Sepp Blatter pulled out a small piece of paper out of an envelope pronouncing South Africa as the 2010 World Cup hosts in Zurich, Switzerland in 2004, Africa erupted in celebration. The World Cup is coming to Africa for the first time in the tournament's 79-year history. It was a refreshing decision as focus shifts from famine, coups and civil wars to hosting the biggest soccer jamboree.

Blatter had not just pulled out a mere piece of paper written South Africa on it. He had pulled out an enormous challenge for South Africa to host the world's biggest soccer showpiece amid scepticism.  Against a backdrop of rising crime, pessimists doubted (and still doubt) South Africa's capability to host an event without major glitches.

The issue of crime has been always central to these concerns.

When South African reggae icon, Lucky Dube was gunned down by carjackers in 2007, concerns about the World Cup host country's safety grew. South Africa has a high crime rate with nearly 20,000 murders in a year.

The chief executive officer of the 2010 World Cup Local Organising Committee, Danny Jordan has already warned the foreign media to 'stop sensationalising' crime after two teams, Egypt and Italy reported they had been robbed during the Confederations Cup.

Sometimes back, there were rumours that FIFA intended to shift the World Cup to a European country, preferably Germany after worries over the slow pace of stadium construction in South Africa. However, the South Africans have shown that it has state of the art infrastructure, which the world has seen during the Confederations Cup.

From the world class Coca Cola Park, the Loftus Versfeld to the giant Royal Bafokeng Sports Complex, South Africa has very good facilities to host high profile matches.

Blatter could not help but heap praises on South Africa after watching the first Confederations Cup matches. Although disappointed with the crowds, he was happy with the facilities. 'We are happy with what has been realised and the four stadiums that are going to be used for the Confederations Cup are at the top (sic), we have no problems and I'd like to pay a compliment to the organisers,' Blatter said.

The disappointing crowds in earlier matches, which involved lightweights Iraq and New Zealand, should not be used as a yardstick to judge next World Cup's attendance.

Traditionally, the Confederations Cup has struggled to attract full houses, as it is considered a low profile event compared to the World Cup. If anything, South Africans should look back with pride that average attendance was 36,000 in the group stages.

The fans have not been disappointed with the standards of football displayed.  Off the field, innovative South Africans are assured of handsome returns.

A trip to Rustenburg for the Group A encounter between South Africa and New Zealand revealed the ingenuity of the locals in Phokeng. The small location surrounding the Royal Bafokeng Stadium has reaped rich from the Confederations Cup and now wait the windfall from the World Cup.

With thousands trooping to Royal Bafokeng, residents who live around the stadium made a killing. Some sold vuvuzelas, whose noise blew away some visitors. South Africa, Brazil, Spain and Italy flags were in high demand as the road leading to the stadium was literally littered with vendors trying to sell merchandise.

Some enterprising residents sold parking space as the area around the stadium was kept free of vehicles. The soccer euphoria has spread to millions of South Africans including whites who normally rally behind the cricket and rugby teams.

But it is residential areas mostly housing black people that the sound of the vuvuzelas is louder.

In Johannesburg, loud Confederations and World Cup banners at the Oliver Tambo International airport welcome visitors. The mood has been set and the airport has been renovated in readiness for the thousands of visitors expected for next year's World Cup.

In the leafy area of Rosebank, there is little activity compared to downtown Johannesburg. A brief visit to Yeoville and the notorious crime-infested Hillbrow reveals a different picture. Residents here are caught in the soccer fever. Teko Modise, Steven Pienaar and Siphiwe Tshabalala almost enjoy cult status.

But the dark side of Hillbrow still stands out just like the tall 'Vodacom' skyscraper which is probably the most famous structure in the rundown area.

The place is filthy and when darkness falls, people are only safe when they are locked in their houses. Coca-Cola Park (formerly Ellis Park stadium) is a stone's throw away from Hillbrow. Visitors would certainly want to visit such places but crime might prove a hindrance.