Africans Excited for World Cup

500 days ... 18 months until South Africa hosts the mother of all sporting events: the 2010 World Cup.

Today, FIFA.com has the opinion of high-ranking African sportsmen and officials on the impending football world championships ...

What do you think?

Former Liverpool goalkeeper, Bruce Grobbelaar
For me, it's not about the number of days left. I think we need to celebrate the work that has been done, the energy that has gone towards making the FIFA World Cup a success. We know that there were a lot of people who were saying that Africans cannot organise an event like this and I guess the results are there for everyone to see. I'm looking forward to the tournament. Finally, its Africa's time.

South African football legend and Kaizer Chiefs chairman, Kaizer Motaung
The memories of 15 May 2004 when President of FIFA announced that South Africa would host the World Cup in South Africa are still fresh in my mind. It is hard to believe that we are left with less than 500 days before the kick-off of the world's biggest sporting spectacle. As a former footballer myself, I am honoured that during my lifetime, I have taken part in preparations for the upcoming tournament. There is no doubt, nor has there ever been in my mind, that come 11 June 2010, South Africans will make Africa and the world proud.

Premier Soccer League CEO, Kjetil Siem
This is, arguably the most exciting period in the football history in this country. The countdown to the world's biggest sporting spectacle will no doubt bring about lots of joy as South African soccer lovers gear up to support this event. I'm encouraged to see the progress made and I'm confident that South Africa will pull off the best FIFA World Cup ever. I urge all South Africans to get behind the event as your unwavering support, dedication and commitment to the event will ensure a resounding success.

FIFA: Africa's A-OK for 2010 World Cup

500 days to go until the opening kick-off of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Today, FIFA.com has an exclusive interview with FIFA President Sepp Blatter, where he talks about his faith in Africa and his wishes for African football.

Please click the link above to read the entire interview or stay with us to see what Mr. Blatter said:

FIFA.com: We have 500 days before kick-off of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa. What will make this FIFA World Cup different?
Joseph S. Blatter: It is the first FIFA World Cup to take place on the African continent. Africa has given the world of football so many, many talented and outstanding players, coaches, clubs and national teams and therefore it was justice that one day that they would host the World Cup in Africa. Now it is Africa's time. I am very happy that in 500 days the World Cup will kick-off in South Africa. It will be an historic moment. For me, it will not only be a realisation of a dream, but of an initiative I had back in 1976 when I started my career as a Development Officer in FIFA. It was then I went to Addis Ababa [in Ethiopia] and saw what football means to Africa.

In your opinion, what is the biggest challenge for South Africa in organising the next FIFA World Cup?
The challenge for South Africa is to deliver the FIFA World Cup - and to deliver it at the highest possible level. They will do it, especially with all the arrangements they have made in terms of construction, technical and logistical infrastructure; transport, hospitality, accommodation etc. South Africa is an organised country. They haven't had all the civic and political rights other countries have had until 1994, so it is a young republic, but an organised one. Therefore, it is not a difficult task to make this FIFA World Cup a success. But this is not just a FIFA World Cup for South Africa; it is an African World Cup. As the former President of South Africa [Thabo] Mbeki said: "We must make sure that this is the African World Cup."

Do you think that the global economic crisis will have an impact on the preparations for the FIFA World Cup?
No, it will not have an impact because the FIFA World Cup will take place. The budgets have been composed, given and ratified. Naturally, we might not have the same return of investment as we had at the last World Cup in 2006, but the world was a different place then. For FIFA, it's not important to get money out of Africa, but it's important to us that the Africans enjoy organising their own World Cup - and they will do. A lot of big footballers such as Pele, [Michel] Platini, [Johan] Cruijff and [Franz] Beckenbauer say that primarily football is a game - and secondly a business. For FIFA it is not a business - it is the game of association football.

One of FIFA's core aims is to build a better future and it is starting to bear fruit now through different projects, especially in Africa. What is FIFA's mission?
Nowadays, football is so popular around the world. Through football, we touch about one billion people in every part of the world. It gives emotions, hope and it brings people together. It helps to build a better future for people, because it is more than just kicking a ball. It is an education. It is a school of life, based on discipline and respect. So, when you play football, you might not become a big star, but you become a better human being.

What legacy does FIFA want to leave in Africa?
There will be a double legacy. There will be the one in South Africa. Through the competition, there will be extremely tight security, just as there is at the Olympic Games and other huge sporting events. We hope that this security will be maintained after the World Cup in order to ensure that we have left a legacy. The other legacy is for the whole of Africa. We want them to be proud and be able to say: 'We Africans have organised the world's most important sporting event: the FIFA World Cup.'

In terms of this legacy, how important is the 'Win in Africa with Africa' initiative?
We can only offer possibilities to develop football in Africa, but it is up to the Africans themselves to develop their own game. Everyone has to do their own homework. FIFA can offer a lot of incentives. We can organise courses, etc, but 'homework' must be done by all the national associations. They will do it, because they have done it in the past and I am sure they will do it in the future. I hope that we have an African team reaching the semi-finals at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, but that is not an easy thing because of the standard of competition from Europe, South America and Asia. Combined, Europe and South America have more than half of the participants for the World Cup, so mathematically it will be easier for them to make the semi-finals.

But you are confident that one day an African team will reach the semi-finals?
One day, they will be there, I just hope that it will be in the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Is there anything you'd like to add?
Yes. We have to trust in the Africans' ability to organise the competition. Trust will give them confidence. If they have confidence, they will be better in the future, not only as footballers, but as organisers. This is my personal wish as the President of FIFA.

MY POV: Nice words from the FIFA President regarding trust. There are rumblings around the world that FIFA is still considering Plan B's to South Africa ... that would crush the spirit of the South African and African organizers of the Cup.

That has to be Plan Z, not Plan B ... I trust Blatter and FIFA's judgement regarding the world's biggest sporting event. But let's leave the World Cup in Africa.

Angola 2010: The Stadiums

2010 is a big year in African football. Not only will Africa host the 2010 World Cup, but see the re-appearance of their continental championship, the African Cup of Nations.

Today, the BBC takes a look at the progress of the stadiums being built for the tournament, being held in January 2010.

They're getting there, slowly but surely ...

Buy World Cup Tickets - Please!

If you're South African or from the immediate area, the organizers of the 2010 World Cup want you to know some important information: Buy your tickets soon or else ...

Organizers want South African fans to break their habit of buying tickets on game day.

"We have a challenge in filling the stadiums," Danny Jordaan, chief executive of the South African organizing committee, told a press conference in Johannesburg.

"We have to educate our people to start buying their tickets for the World Cup when they go on sale next month," he said.

Soccer games rarely sell out in Africa, making it relatively easy for fans to buy tickets at the gate.

But doing so during the World Cup, which begins on June 11, 2010, will see many locals shut out and deal a blow to hopes that the tournament would have a heavy African influence in the stands.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter said the global financial crisis would not have a significant impact on the World Cup, though he added that the tournament might not be as profitable as the 2006 final in Germany.

"The budgets have been composed, given and ratified. Naturally, we might not have the same return of investment as we had at the last World Cup in 2006, but the world was a different place then," Blatter told FIFA.com.

South Africa has vowed to finish building all 10 stadiums for the World Cup on time although the cost will be more than initially forecast, due partly to a weaker local currency (the rand) and higher construction costs.

Rising prices for imported cement, steel and other key building materials and higher labor costs have wreaked havoc on the stadium construction budgets, leading to a 3.2 billion rand ($316 million) shortfall.

Local organizers are concerned about keeping the budget from spiraling out of control and finding the funds to meet the shortfall.

South Africa expects 450,000 visitors for the World Cup and hopes the finals will spur tourism and investment in Africa's richest economy.

MY POV: Tickets go on sale next month ... anyone out there want to help a poor New Yorker get to SA?

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500 Days to the 2010 World Cup

Next Tuesday marks the 500-day countdown to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
The event will be commemorated with a series of high profile events around the country.

On Monday, FIFA Secretary General Jérôme Valcke will address a media conference in Johannesburg. The focal point of the day will be in Bloemfontein, where host city representatives will unveil the nine host city posters.

In addition, officials from the Italian Embassy will visit schools in Mangaung as part of the 2010 ’Adopt a Nation’ campaign.

Tuesday will see the launch of the 2010 Mass Participation Program in Kimberley and on Wednesday, LOC chief exectuve Danny Jordaan departs for Davos to address the World Economic Forum on South Africa’s preparations.

Should be an interesting week in South Africa.

500 days? Oh my! I REALLY need to get in gear ...

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Mido Moves to Wigan

Remember Mido?

The temperamental Egyptian striker is set to join England's Wigan Athletic from England's Middlesbrough until the end of the season.

The 25-year-old will replace striker Emile Heskey, who looks to be on the verge of signing for Aston Villa. Mido will join fellow Egyptian Amr Zaki, who has been a revelation for the Latics this season, scoring 11 goals in all competitions.

Wigan manager Steve Bruce said: "Mido has played for some huge European clubs, where he gained Champions League and UEFA Cup experience."

Mido has scored four goals in 13 appearances for struggling Middlesbrough this season.

But with all the positives come negatives. He's known for being an extraordinary diva.

In 2004, Egypt coach Marco Tardelli dropped Mido from the squad after the striker claimed to be unavailable due to an injury. But he played in a friendly match for Roma 24 hours later. A day later, Mido rejected accusations that he refused to play for his country.

Ultimately, the Egyptian Football Federation announced that he would not play for the team again. However, Tardelli was sacked as Egypt coach and in January 2005 the Egyptian Football Association said they would consider bringing Mido back into the team if he were to apologize for his past behavior. Mido flew to Egypt, apologized and the following month he was recalled by the national team.

Oh, but that's not all ...

Mido was thrown out of the Egypt team during the 2006 African Cup of Nations because of an argument with coach Hassan Shehata in the semi-final game against Senegal, which started after Mido reacted badly to being substituted.

His replacement and now Wigan team mate Amr Zaki came on to score a header with his first touch, putting Egypt into the final.

A day later, Mido reconciled with Shehata, but was given a six-month suspension from the team. He was eventually recalled in time for 2008 African Cup of Nations qualifying.

Mido was included in the Egypt squad to play South Africa in London in November 2006, despite suffering from a knee injury at the time. He was however left out of the Egypt squad to play Mauritania in an African Cup qualifier in March 2007.

He was not part of the squad that won the 2008 African Cup of Nations in Ghana.

Talented? Yes. Moody? Very much so. Should be interesting to see how he fits in with Zaki at Wigan. You never know with the diva known as Mido ...

Kenya, FIFA Agree to Agree

The world soccer governing body FIFA and the country of Kenya have had their share of issues over the years.

Finally, it looks like they're going to agree to agree and try to fix the situation.

FIFA recognizes one group of administrators, known as Football Kenya Limited or FKL.

The Kenyan government deals with a rival group - which claims to be the legitimate Kenya Football Federation (KFF).

Now a joint committee will be formed to run Kenyan football for most of 2009.

The committee - which is likely to be formed from a combination of FKL and KFF officials - will have a nine-month mandate.

Representatives of FIFA will arrive in Nairobi shortly to complete the agreement, which was announced by the country's sports minister, Helen Sambili.

The minister said the committee would be operating before Kenya face Tunisia in the opening game of the final round of World Cup qualifiers at the end of March.

They will play Nigeria and Mozambique as well as Tunisia in 2010 World Cup qualifiers.

Kenya Football Limited recently sacked the coach of the national team, Francis Kimanzi.

They said he had refused to take charge of planned friendly matches and had also refused to give interviews to the media.

The government has called for his reinstatement.

MY POV: Clearly, this is only the first step in resolving this tenuous issue. Someone needed to step in and fix this mess. No one's better than FIFA for that much ... The question is: Why did it take so long? Sad, really ...

Aboutrika Wins 2008 BBC African Footballer of the Year

Congratulations to Mohamed Aboutrika, who won the 2008 BBC African Footballer of the Year award yesterday.

This, from the BBC:

The midfield star won by an overwhelming majority - taking more than half of the total ballot.

More than 155,000 people cast their votes for the BBC award - the only one of its kind to be decided by football fans around the world.

Aboutrika beat the 2007 winner Emmanuel Adebayor, Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto'o and Amr Zaki to the title.

The award is recognition for a magnificent year for the player, in which he helped his country to win the Africa Cup of Nations and his club to take the African Champions League for a record sixth time.

"2008 was a tremendous year," Aboutrika told the BBC's African sports programme Fast Track.

"It was an opportunity for me and my team-mates to be a showcase for Egyptian football, across the world."

Aboutrika scored the winning goal for Egypt in the Pharaohs' triumph at the Nations Cup in Ghana.

He also set up several goals in the final of the Champions League, as Al Ahly claimed the continental title yet again.

"This prize is a wonderful present for me," Aboutrika said.

"It's an honour both for Egyptian football and for my club Al Ahly - I am very happy to be this year's winner of the BBC African Footballer of the Year award."

His coach at Al Ahly, Manuel Jose, said Mohamed Aboutrika richly deserved his award.

"Aboutrika is the key player," he said.

"What the other players can't do, he can do. He is fantastic player and a fantastic person.

"I agree with this award because for me he is the best player playing in Africa for the last five years, every year he is the best."

Aboutrika is the second Egyptian to win the award - after his club and international colleague Mohamed Barakat, who won in 2005.

Didn't I say he'd win? Congratulations!

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Kenya's Mathare United Inspires

The Kenyan election crisis was one of the most talked-about news stories of 2008.
The political, economic, and humanitarian crisis that erupted in the East African nation cost over 1,000 people their lives and displaced close to 250,000.

A year later, things haven't gotten easier. Many are still displaced and ethnic violence is still only a dispute away.

Still, there was something to revel in this past November when the Mathare Youth Sports Association's (MYSA) adult team Mathare United won the Kenyan national championship.

Mathare is one of the largest slums in Nairobi, Kenya's capital city. It houses close to 500,000 in an area without sanitation, running water, electricity or trash collection.

David Goldblatt, the wonderful author the best-selling book on football history, The Ball is Round: The Global History of Football, traveled with the team to Muhroni in the Western Kenyan highlands, where they faced Agro Chemicals, the works team of the local sugar plantation. Mathare United needed just a draw or better from the game to win the Kenyan football league for the first time in their history.

His account makes for a wonderful tale of redemption and the human spirit. Please check out the BBC story of his travels and make sure to listen to the podcast for a more in-depth view of life in Kenya and Kenyan football.

As Goldblatt, puts it after Mathare clinched the championship, 'The Mathare players celebrated, danced and sang and the home crowd decided to join in too and flooded the pitch. On the team bus back to the hotel, thousands of texts seemed to arrive on every player's phone, as Mathare and the other slums of Nairobi celebrated. Despite the poverty and the spectre of ethnic violence, Mathare United's triumph is testament to the amazing talents and energies of Kenya's poor.'

Please make sure to check out this wonderful story.

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