16 World Cup teams confirm base camps in SA

MQONDISI DUBE
Staff Writer | Thursday January 7, 2010 00:00

South Africa has feverishly wooed teams to camp within its borders and efforts are paying dividends. Other Southern African countries have been busy canvassing with the hope of attracting teams and enjoy the benefits of the first World Cup on African soil.

England, undoubtedly the tournament's biggest draw card in terms of travelling spectators, confirmed late last year that they will be based in Rustenburg.

The English made arrangements with the Royal Bafokeng Sports to secure a base tailor designed for the team and the facility will cost 20million pounds.

Australia's Socceroos will be based in the Zwartkops mountains between Johannesburg and Pretoria, about 45minutes' drive from both cities.

Ghana will be in Nelspruit while Japan will camp in the town of George. South Americans, Paraguay, will be in the coastal area of Mossel Bay.

Diego Maradona's Argentina will stay in Pretoria with 2006 hosts, Germany, choosing the nearby Centurion.

Former World champions, Brazil, have settled for Blomfontein after an earlier toss between Zimbabwe and South Africa.

The Samba Boys visited Zimbabwe in late November and said they were very interested in camping in the troubled southern African country. However, they eventually settled for Blomfontein.

World champions, Italy and the United States are said to be squabbling over staying at the Irene Country Lodge located between Johannesburg and Pretoria.

France and Denmark have confirmed that they will camp in Knysna.

South Korea will join 1966 champions, England in Rustenburg.

South Africa, as the hosts, will camp at home although they are scheduled to go for a three-month training camp in Brazil. Bafana Bafana chose Kempton Park as their base.Cameroon have settled for East London as their home for the month-long tournament. Slovakia are also considering the same town for their camp. Holland would be staying in Johannesburg. If Nigeria are happy with the facilities that have been offered by Namibia as they prepare for the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Angola, they might be tempted to camp there ahead of the World Cup in June.

Other regions in South Africa are said to be vigorously pursuing the remaining teams, which might deal Botswana a body blow. A largely anonymous local 2010 Taskforce, headed by the Ministry of Sports, Youth and Culture, and the Ministry of Tourism has come under attack particularly from the local media for failure to spell out their strategy.Botswana has failed to attract a team to camp here ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations finals that kick-off in Luanda on Sunday.