Was Dunga wrong to leave out Ronaldinho?

Today, an interesting comment from 2010 World Cup head organizer Danny Jordaan concerning the selection of Brazil's squad for the tournament.

Jordaan criticized Brazil coach Dunga for leaving AC Milan star Ronaldinho out of Brazil's first-choice squad for the Cup, saying some coaches are "blinded" by a sense of power.

Jordaan said Ronaldinho is a "soccer genius" who had talents "enjoyed by few in the game, both past and present."

Ronaldinho will only play in South Africa if there are injuries to other players after Dunga left the two-time world player of the year out of his 23-man squad yesterday.

Jordaan said it was it was "sad and unfortunate" the tournament would suffer without Ronaldinho and that someone of Dunga's experience should have selected the Milan midfielder as a "matter of course."

Of course, the former Barcelona star isn't the only big star left out of the tournament.

Also missing is Francesco Totti and Luca Toni from Italy, Javier Zanetti and Esteban Cambiasso from Argentina and Patrick Vieira from France, along with many others.

Certainly, the Cup will miss the presence of these great players. But others will fill their shoes and be mentioned in the same breath as these wonderful talents as they display their wares for the world to see come June 11th.

What do you think? Is Jordaan right in his assessment? Should players like Ronaldinho be 'grandfathered' into Cup competitions because of who they are?

An Interview with Danny Jordaan

No, I didn't conduct this interview. I only wish I did.

(If anyone has connections and can hook me up with Mr. Danny Jordaan, the chief executive of the South African World Cup organizing committee, I'd be happy to do it.)

Alas, I'm but a poor blogger in New York. But one day, I promise.

This interview was conducted by Keir Radnedge for SportsFeatures.com.

I include it here as it's insightful, full of meat and provides a clear eye of where South Africa believes they are, one year before the world's biggest sporting event.

Take a look at it here or click the link above.

Q: What targets did you set yourselves at the outset?

DJ: We have two priorities. One is event success and one is onfield success. Onfield success is the responsibility of the national team and in countries which have hosted the World Cup and done well this has been a very positive experience – France winning in 1998, Germany and Korea reaching the last four in 2006 and 2002 and the English still talk about their win in 1966.

Q: After the Confederations Cup, where do you think you stand in terms of event success?

DJ: We are very happy from an organisational standpoint. We have achieved everything we set out to do so we will now have a full debrief and then we will start on preparing for the World Cup next year. As for the South African team we also saw a good performance, which is something we have not seen for a long time. There was structure, discipline and the ability to play with credibility against the best teams in the world. However the question of getting the ball in the net remains a challenge.

Scale of difficulty

Q: What will change at the World Cup compared with what has been on view at the Confederations Cup?

DJ: We are looking forward to the 2010 World Cup through the eyes of the Confederations Cup. We have to use the experience of the Confed Cup to understand the scale and complexity and difficulties ahead. In size the World Cup is a vastly different proposition.

Q: What are the positives for next year?

DJ: One factor concerns the stadia. For example, we have played the Confed Cup in existing stadia in Ellis Park (Johannesburg), Rustenburg, Bloemfontein and Pretoria. But people should know that these are our worst stadia – the six best, the new ones, are to come. They are spectacular. Also, the common use of of stadia will not be a complicating issue next year as it has been this year with the British Lions tour running parallel to the Confederations Cup.

Q: How will fans, next year, find the transport arrangements?

DJ: Transport, we know, is an issue. We introduced a park-and-ride system here to bring fans to the stadia and it had some teething problems with people arriving late at the games and then having to wait for a long time after matches. It was a new experience for South African fans but for the later games things were smoothed out.

This raises the issue of co-ordination with the host cities because local transport is their overall responsibility. We will have 1,000 extra buses and extra aircraft so we can move the fans who want to follow their team. We have signed contacts with bus suppliers and we know that is one area in which we have to focus.

Q: Are you still worried about African fans’ habit of turning up very late at a game, just before kickoff?

DJ: I’m happy to say that over the two weeks of the Confed Cup we saw a significant improvement in terms of the early arrival of fans. It’s all about behavioural change. But then, here at the Confederations Cup around 90 per cent of the fans have been South African. The World Cup is different. The vast majority of the fans will be foreign and the late flow of fans into a ground will not be an issue then.

Stadia debate

Q: Is there a concern that some of the new stadia will turn out to be “white elephants”?

DJ: This stadia issue is a long debate. South Africa wants to bring back the Rugby World Cup and, in the case of Cape Town, matches would be staged in the new stadium and not Newlands because the infrastructure in these old stadia are no longer up to the standard needed to host major international matches any more.

A stadium normally has a lifecycle of between 30 and 70 years but, beyond a certain point, it is false investment to continue upgrading. Once the commercial partners who buy naming rights go to the new stadium it is very difficult for anyone to stay in the old stadium because it’s about revenue generation.

Look at what happened with Wembley in England. The debate lasted years with clashes between realists and the traditionalists who had wanted to keep the old, twin towers. The same thing will happen in South Africa but, ultimately, people will realise, as with Wembley, that the old stadium does not suffice any more. Then it will be clear to everyone that the old stadia may be rich with history and tradition but they don’t meet international requirements.

Q: Security is a major concern for foreign officials and fans because of South Africa’s domestic crime rate. What is being to allay people’s fears?

DJ: We have invested huge sums of money in security through both the South African Police Service and stewarding at the stadia. In the outer perimeter around a stadium security is the responsibility of police but inside the inner perimeter you have private security security and inside the stadia the stewards. You cannot turn a policeman into a steward and these thing are well defined.

We also have a VIP protection force for people such as FIFA president Sepp Blatter. This country has hosted 146 international events so it’s not for first time we’ve faced this challenge and I can say we have never had a major incident.

Q: Will all the tickets be sold?

DJ: Yes, of course. This is the World Cup, the most popular sports events on the planet. Already all the tickets which have gone on sale have been oversubscribed many, many times over.

Q: What reaction have you had from the teams who came here for the Confed Cup?

DJ: Overwhelmingly we have had positive feedback from the teams, the media, the broadcasters, commercial partners and from our own fans? I think this event been a revelation in terms of the interest but we are not going to waste time celebrating the pluses: we are going to study the debrief and then knuckle down to ensure we deliver the sort of World Cup we want - the first World Cup in Africa, the one which Sepp Blatter and Nelson Mandela had in their heads and have brought to reality.

World Cup Organizers Optimistic One Year Ahead of Cup

We're one year away, folks!

One year until the opening of the world's biggest sporting event - the 2010 World Cup!

I'm excited! And so are the South African organizers, who are confident everything in South Africa will be ready on time.

Danny Jordaan, head of the South African Organizing Committee, even promised visiting fans will be embraced, not mugged, when they show up! I wouldn't mind that ...

"As things stand at the moment, we are very confident," said Jordaan, adding that some manufacturing unrest could still hamper progress. "It is not a straight line. It is a roller coaster."

Still, considering years of criticism that South Africa would not be able to pull off hosting the world's biggest sporting event and after calls for FIFA to come up with Plan B for 2010, Jordaan claimed a partial victory with the opening of the new stadium in Port Elizabeth, the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

"It was completed more than 12 months before the World Cup starts," said Jordaan, calling it unprecedented.

For this month's Confederations Cup, a dry run for the World Cup, FIFA is using four World Cup stadiums which needed little upgrading.

Much international concern has centered on security. Jordaan sought to allay fears.

He pointed to the organization of the Twenty20 Indian Premier League tournament at short notice, which ended without any security incidents.

"This country has the capacity to safeguard events like no other country," he said, adding that South Africa had already organized 146 major events without a hitch. MY POV: 146?

Even if stadiums and teams can be easily secured, many fear fans from across the world will run into trouble.

South Africa has among the highest murder and rape rates in the world and has gained an international reputation as a violent country.

The government and local organizers are hoping to alleviate people's fears ahead of next year's Cup.

"We don't want you to have an experience in this country of fear and anxiety," Jordaan said. "You will find people warm and embracing.

"You should not be any more worried than when you walk in Atlanta or Toronto or any other city of the world."

MY POV: Jordaan is certainly optimistic. There's just no way of knowing if what he says is true until next year's Cup. The proof will be in the pudding, as they say.

First Stadium Built for 2010 Cup Opens

We're getting closer. Just 367 days away ...

And today, the first stadium built exclusively for the World Cup opened. The Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth, South Africa is now open for business, a year ahead of the 2010 World Cup.

The 48,000-seat stadium will host eight games at the World Cup, including a quarter final and the third/fourth place play-off.

"For us today's first opening of a newly-built 2010 FIFA World Cup stadium is a huge boost. It demonstrates the capacity of SA's (South Africa) construction industry and our commitment to deliver on all our 2010 FIFA World Cup promises," said chief executive of the organizing committee Danny Jordaan.

The 2010 curtain-raiser Confederations Cup starts next Sunday at four refurbished stadiums in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Bloemfontein and Rustenburg.

Jordaan added that the five additional new stadiums that will also be used in the World Cup were "shaping up nicely" to be ready ahead of 2010.

MY POV: I'm happy to hear SA's getting the stadiums operational a full year before the Cup. It's an important first step and shows the world how serious and committed South Africa is to being ready for the first African World Cup.

Does the FIFA Confederations Cup Matter?

I've been trying to get myself excited for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, which starts June 14th.

But honestly, I could care less.

I know what people are saying:

Brazil-Italy should be great!
The world's #1 team Spain is playing!
Will Egypt perform on the big stage?
How will Iraq do?
And will South Africa put on a good show one year before the World Cup?
Is SA ready?

I also know that the Confederations Cup is a dress rehearsal for the World Cup, the introduction of global tournament play to the continent of Africa and an important tournament for continental champions.

Still, it feels like fixture congestion to me.

Many of these players just got done competing in their domestic league championships. Now they'll be in South Africa instead of resting their weary bones.

Also, some of these countries still have World Cup qualifying to take care of. When?!? Doesn't this seem excessive to anyone?

I know it's an important dress rehearsal for South Africa. Couldn't they do something else? Like hold a local tournament or invite club teams over for pre-season training?

Maybe it just feels inconsequential.

For the point of debate, I'm including comments from Danny Jordaan, CEO of the South Africa 2010 World Cup Organizing Committee. Writing an editorial in South Africa's Daily Dispatch, Jordaan makes the case for the importance of the Cup.

What do you think?

I disagree with those who believe that the Confederations Cup, which begins on June 14, is not a serious tournament.

While I can understand that some people are making a comparison between it and the 2010 World Cup, the Confed Cup is absolutely crucial for South Africa.

It is the official dress rehearsal for the World Cup next year, and in so many respects it will set the tone for the global showpiece.

In a nutshell, it will test our preparedness and provide valuable pointers in so many areas on the road ahead.

Crucially, it will usher in a vital new culture of football in our country in which we play host to some of the world’s top soccer nations – their teams, officials, supporters and media – while imparting to our own communities the significance of their role in playing, administrating, supporting and reporting the beautiful game.

Positive outcomes in the execution of the Confed Cup imperatives will instill an immense sense of confidence, here and abroad, in respect of our progress in putting on the best World Cup of them all.

In order to do that, however, we must stage the best Confed Cup of them all.

And to borrow a famous phrase of another soccer-lover, US President Barack Obama: “Yes we can!”

Indeed, the fact that this is a tournament involving all six of Fifa’s football confederations, as well as the holders of the World Cup and hosts, South Africa, means that the message it sends out will reach right across the globe and be consumed by all those football nations who will play in next year’s World Cup. The best marketing brains like to use the phrase “advertising you cannot buy” – and that’s exactly the promise that the Confed Cup holds for South Africa.

Permit me to use an example from another sport.

Cricket SA recently agreed at the shortest notice to stage the Indian Premier League – eight teams representing the best players in the world in 59 back- to-back matches.

By all accounts, it was an extraordinary success – providing advertising that South Africa just could not buy.

The IPL in South Africa was not just good for cricket but did wonders in enhancing South Africa’s credibility as a preferred destination to host global events of any nature.

Apart from the acclaim from abroad, the extravaganza re-instilled confidence in all South Africans in our capability to stage and enjoy a great sporting experience – and to extend the red carpet of hospitality to any and every nation.

This is the promise of the Confed Cup in which we have the honour to welcome the top footballers from Italy, Brazil, Spain, Egypt, the US, Iraq and New Zealand.

By ensuring their comfort, security and enjoyment, we do not just embrace them – we embrace the world.

For South African soccer followers, there is the rare opportunity of seeing many of the world’s great teams and players in action at our home grounds – a year ahead of the World Cup itself.

This is a gilt-edged opportunity for Bafana Bafana to play in this exalted company, test themselves against the best, and for us to cheer them on.

What better opportunity can there be for them, and for us?

There is a misconception that next month’s tournament cannot provide a true measure of our preparedness for the “main event” because the host cities and venues that will stage the matches of the Confed Cup 2009 do not include all those for the World Cup 2010.

This is simply not so because those World Cup host cities and stadiums that do not form part of the Confederations Cup programme are all preparing on the same template and will thus enjoy the rare opportunity to monitor closely next month’s operational plan to ensure that they, too, are on track ahead of 2010.

Also all those people working on the Confed Cup – think of the thousands of volunteers – will take their hard- earned experience into 2010.

And all those South African soccer lovers who cannot wait to revel in the once-in-a-lifetime experience of 2010 now have the privilege to raise the roof early in 2009.

Is this month’s tournament an important one for all of us?

You bet it is.

Safety Guaranteed at 2010 World Cup

Safety has long been an issue when talk turns to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Yesterday, organizers of the upcoming Confederations Cup and 2010 World Cup assured the world that these events will be safe.

Recent crowd control issues in the Ivory Coast have sparked concern when it comes to the situation in South Africa. But organizers have moved swiftly to calm fears.

The Local Organising Committee (LOC) says that working with the relevant law enforcement agencies, it has put solid measures in place to ensure the safety of spectators, officials and teams both inside and outside the match venues during the two events.

“Their safety is guaranteed,” says LOC chair Danny Jordaan. He added that 41,000 police personnel will be deployed for the 2010 World Cup alone.

“To ensure safety for the fans, teams and officials coming to South Africa for the two FIFA tournaments, it’s important that we do not only focus on stadium safety, but general safety as well."

In addition to the promised 700 police officers at each game, a joint operation between law enforcement agencies will also be keeping a close eye on stadium security.

Jordaan says he is concerned about the tendency of local spectators to arrive late at stadiums.

“We can’t stress strongly enough the need for fans to give themselves enough time to enter the stadium, safely and securely,” he said.

In an effort to remedy late fans, the LOC is embarking on a major spectator education campaign to ensure that fans attending the Confederations Cup and World Cup matches get to the games early.

“The gates will open three hours before kick-off and this is when we want fans to start arriving for the match, so that they can go through the various security checks and get into the stadiums safely,” says Jordaan.

Jordaan says the LOC has briefed representatives of the competing Confederations Cup teams about the security measures.

“We call on all countries in the World Cup qualifiers to adopt the best safety practice to ensure that 2010 is safe and incident free,” he said.

MY POV: Now's the time to implement these measures. The Confederations Cup is a wonderful time to see how venues react to crowd control issues, rowdy fans and a host of other issues.

Cheers to the LOC and Danny Jordaan for taking the initiative and making sure they have a program in place ahead of the 2010 Cup.

Jordaan: Teams Will Be Safe in South Africa

Safety has been a hot button issue when discussing the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Will fans be safe? Will the squads coming over be safe?

South Africa has a high crime rate and steps have been taken to remedy the situation, such as training new officers and implementing sweeping safety measures.

Today, chief executive officer of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa Danny Jordaan reiterated that there will not be a single security breach or attack on any of the teams or their officials taking part in the tournament come next summer.

Speaking in London in the wake of heightened concern following the ambush in Pakistan of Sri Lanka's cricket team last week, the man who masterminded South Africa's successful bid said, "We've already had our security people working at the Germany World Cup, the Euro 2008 final and the Beijing Olympics.

"But over and above that we will have 41,000 extra police and, in total, 86,000 additional personnel on duty during the World Cup. There will be water cannons, police helicopters, surveillance cameras and regular dry runs of security in each of our host cities because this is an important issue for us."

Jordaan also pointed to South Africa's record of hosting major sporting events since independence in 1994. "If you look at our event experience we've hosted many including the rugby World Cup in 1995, the 2003 cricket World Cup and the Twenty20 World Cup in 2007. We have [teams] in and out of the country all the time — this year we have the British Lions tour and the Confederations Cup.

"There is societal crime and event security — these are two separate issues. The way to secure the event is to collect the maximum information. I know when the team is arriving, when it is training, where it is playing and I know when the fans are coming. If I have 100% of this information I can tell I can a guarantee it will be 100% safe. Our security plan has been tested over 15 years and from 22 major events there has not been a single security issue."

MY POV: Jordaan is a confident man and had better hope nothing happens during the Cup. Or it will look very bad not only for South Africa but the entire continent.

FIFA: South Africa Must Do More to Promote World Cup

FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke thinks South Africa must do more to promote this year's Confederations Cup and the 2010 World Cup.

But doesn't an event like the World Cup promote itself?

"I haven't seen a single promotion for the Confederations Cup and also not a single one for the World Cup," he told a news conference.

"It is impossible to bring people to the stadium if we do not promote the Confederations Cup," he said.

World Cup Organizing Committee chief executive officer Danny Jordaan criticized what he saw as a lack of enthusiasm in the country.

"There is only one country that will host this World Cup and that is South Africa. And yet you find countries like Canada, Australia are more enthusiastic it seems than our own South African population," he said.

"The same situation applies for the Confederations Cup."

The Confederations Cup, seen as a World Cup appetizer, will take place from June 14-28. Valcke said a company had been hired to advertise both events.

Jordaan said 170,000 tickets had been sold so far for the Confederations Cup.

MY POV: I'd be more than happy to help promote the Confederations Cup at a very cheap price ... maybe airline tickets to South Africa and tickets to a few games?

Call my agent ... we'll set it up ... (I kid, but I'm serious too ...)

Jordaan: Get Your Tickets NOW!

As the day to buy World Cup tickets fast approaches, South Africa Local Organizing Committee (LOC) chief executive Danny Jordaan has urged South Africans not to wait until the last minute to purchase tickets.

An estimated three million tickets are expected to be made available globally, starting on Friday.
15% of these will go on sale exclusively to South African citizens.

Jordaan said South Africans should "rush out and get their tickets" from this weekend to avoid disappointment.

"We would like to see the stadiums full of South Africans during the World Cup," said Jordaan.

"People should be mindful that they won't be able to buy a match ticket on the morning of the game or at the gate. South Africans have to buy their tickets early."

Millions of soccer-mad spectators across the world will be scrambling for World Cup tickets starting on Friday.

Prices range from $20 (R140) for category 4 tickets, which are exclusively available to South Africans, to $900 (R6 300) for a category 1 ticket for the final.

In 2006, the cheapest ticket cost 35 euros (R357).

MY POV: Hope I get some good seats! South Africa, here I come!

'Only God Can Move This World Cup'

"Only God can move this World Cup."

So said World Cup Local Organizing Committee (LOC) chief Danny Jordaan to a session of the South African Parliament's sports and recreation yesterday.

Brash words but I suppose confidence is what is needed now from South Africa and their organizing chief.

Addressing the committee on the country's readiness to host the world's biggest event, Jordaan said Plan B was "long dead" and that there was no other country in the world ready to host a World Cup in less than 18 months.

He said the world was "focused" on South Africa and that hospitality packages worth millions of rands had already been sold for the tournament.

"We are going to deliver this event, there is no doubt about that," said Jordaan. "We have some of the best stadiums in the world and have a track record of hosting world-class events. We have the experience. We hosted rugby and cricket World Cups, the All Africa Games, the Athletics World Cup and a number of other events - only God can move this World Cup. Only a natural disaster could lead to it being moved elsewhere."

MY POV: Thatta boy, Mr. Jordaan! Keep it up! We need more of this from you!

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?

No Plan B for 2010 World Cup

Put those thoughts of the 2010 World Cup in the USA, England or Germany out of your mind ...

"Plan B is dead," Danny Jordaan, head of the World Cup local organizing committee told reporters in Johannesburg in a year-end review of preparations for the tournament.

Jordaan was referring to speculation earlier this year that FIFA, soccer's world governing body could yank the World Cup from South Africa if the country was deemed ill-prepared to become the first African host of the tournament.

FIFA president Joseph Blatter's admission in June that FIFA had a 'Plan B' when it came to the host nation made for sensational headlines.

By now, the skeptics, mostly Europeans, have been proved wrong, according to Jordaan.

All 10 World Cup stadiums - five new, five upgraded - will be ready on time, he said.

Having said this, the cost will be higher than forecast due in part to a weaker rand.

"All of the stadiums will be complete and there is no doubt about that," Jordaan told a news conference.

"Some of the (construction) materials will be procured outside the country. As the rand weakens, there will be some cost overruns," he said, noting that the price of oil added another layer of unpredictability to the process.

Rising prices for imported cement, steel and other key building materials and higher labor costs have wreaked havoc on the stadium construction budget, leading to a 3.2 billion rand ($314 million) shortfall.

Local organizers are concerned about keeping the budget from spinning out of control and finding the funds to meet the shortfall, which the South African government has already pledged 1.4 billion rand towards.

In the past year the currency has lost about 30 percent of its value against the U.S. dollar and 24 percent versus the euro. The eurozone is South Africa's main trading partner.

South Africa expects 480,000 visitors for the World Cup, which starts on June 11, 2010, and hopes the month-long finals will spur tourism and investment in Africa's richest economy.

MY POV: Good for South Africa. About time they showered good news on the non-believers around the world.

FIFA 'Happy' on Road to 2010

FIFA wants everyone to know that they're happy with South Africa's preparations ahead of the 2010 World Cup, no matter what anyone may think ...

FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke said that there are still issues to be resolved ahead of the first-ever African World Cup, but that the mood was still positive.

"I think we should forget this question now," Valcke said, asked about the possibility of another country stepping in. "It's been a lot of work since May 2004 and I think there is still a lot of work until June 14 2009 [when South Africa hosts the Confederations Cup] and the 2010 World Cup.

"I think it's a lot of issues and we have to make sure we are working on them all the time. The main issues are security, transportation, accommodation, overlay; it's all what you need to host a World Cup. It's normal, because there is not a single country ready 18 months prior to the World Cup. When we had the Confederations Cup in Germany, it's where we discovered that lots of things were not working. There is no question that it was the right decision to bring the World Cup to South Africa."

The CEO of the World Cup Local Organizing Committee (LOC) Danny Jordaan thinks that although South Africa has experienced problems, they're getting there.

"Firstly, we are focusing on the Confederations Cup," he said. "These are existing stadiums, however there is still a gap between the existing stadiums and the event requirements. So we are focusing on that to make sure that by the end of December, all of the four stadiums for the Confederations Cup are fully compliant with all requirements for the event; and then [making] sure all of the stadiums are complete by October next year and also then to focus on the final draw on December 4 next year."

Valcke hinted that the 2018 tournament could be given to a "rich" country, possibly from Europe. The 2014 World Cup will be held in Brazil, which probably means it isn't a 'rich' country.

"I have a feeling that Germany tomorrow morning could host the World Cup. Because they have a very strong professional league, stadiums are ready, so there are a few European countries [who] will not have to spend as much money as South Africa is doing or as Brazil will have to do because there is not a single, what we call, World Cup stadium in Brazil.

"And they will have to provide us with these stadiums and work on them. Again, I have the feeling that there will be competition, I would say between five to eight countries, bidding for 2018.

"These will come from four confederations as Africa and South America will not have access to 2018. It will be potentially the so-called 'rich' countries, where there is already the infrastructure we need to host a World Cup."

MY POV: The more I listen to these FIFA cronies talk, the more I wish they'd be quiet.

How condescending of them to talk about giving the 2018 World Cup to a 'rich' country?

How about just letting events play out and letting the citizens of South Africa enjoy the process of the 2010 World Cup?

More and more, it feels like FIFA has absolutely no confidence in South Africa. It seems like they're wringing their hands clean of the 2010 Cup, rueing their decision to give the 2014 Cup to a poor country like Brazil and focusing on the 'cash money' bonanza of the 2018 Cup.

USA 2018 anyone? The more you hear FIFA bellow, the more it sounds like they'd hold every World Cup in the USA and England if they had the chance ...

It's all about the money, isn't it? How stupid of me to believe it was about more than just the cash ...

Concern over 2010 World Cup

A few weeks ago, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said the world's economic meltdown would not affect the 2010 World Cup at all.

Now, South African organizers of the 2010 World Cup expressed concern Friday about the effect the global financial crisis will have on the tournament, which is already running well over budget.

Back to reality, guys ...

The South African government has had to allocate an extra $136 million for stadium construction because of rising prices, pushing total costs to more than 30 billion rand. That is 10 times the amount originally budgeted.

The South African rand has fallen about 30 percent against the dollar in recent weeks and as the U.S. and Europe slide into recession, there are concerns fans will not have money to travel or buy tickets.

Danny Jordaan, head of the local World Cup organizing committee, said organizers were taking a "wait and see approach" but that there were indications that the world financial outlook will be more positive by 2010.

"Even if you accept people have fewer dollars in their pockets, those dollars will buy more rands. So people may still travel because the destination becomes cheaper," he said.

South Africa has been hoping that the World Cup will act as a catalyst for economic growth and a boom in tourism with an anticipated 350,000 visitors expected to flood into the country for the monthlong event.

Jerome Valcke, FIFA's secretary general, said that while football fans may be facing tighter times, tickets for the most-watched tournament in the world will still be sought after.

Valcke also gave reassurances that FIFA's finances were in good shape and would not be affected by the turmoil in world markets.

"We are not afraid even as we recognize there is a very strong crisis," he said. "Sport is one safe business that gives something when all else is going wrong.

South Africa, Danny Jordaan and Obama

Interesting article in today's New York Times about Danny Jordaan, South Africa's World Cup chief organizer.

Jordaan flew into New York for meetings this week and happened to land here right as the United States was electing their first African-American President, Barack Obama.

Considering South Africa's delicate history with race and apartheid, it was an interesting time for Jordaan to be in New York.

According to the article, Obama's election reminded him of the time South African Nelson Mandela was let out of prison in 1990.

It was a strange evening to be landing in New York. Jordaan, the chairman of the South African committee that will stage the World Cup of soccer in 2010, watched the celebration on CNN and compared the mood in America to the mood in South Africa on Feb. 11, 1990, the day Nelson Mandela walked out of prison after 27 years.

“The majority celebrated,” recalled Jordaan, who had worked against apartheid without going to prison or into exile. “But many people did not celebrate,” he recalled. “You have to be magnanimous.”

Obama has long expressed his respect for Mandela, saying he had been inspired by a visit to Mandela’s former prison cell on Robben Island. In turn, Mandela sent a message to Obama on Wednesday, saying, in part, “Your victory has demonstrated that no person anywhere in the world should not dare to dream of wanting to change the world for a better place.”

While much of the world sees Obama's victory as a new symbol of hope, a successful 2010 World Cup in South Africa would be equally satisfying to many.

Jordaan is assuring people that everything will be ready in approximately 600 days' time.

Joseph S. Blatter, the president of FIFA, once mentioned a Plan B for the World Cup, then amended his remarks to say they referred only to natural disaster. But Jordaan knows there is skepticism about the stadiums, the hotels, the transportation, the security.

Just about every major sports tournament around the world is dogged by tardiness, incompetence, graft, repression, you name it. The tear gas from civil unrest had barely been cleared before the 1988 Summer Games in Seoul, and they were a success. The trolley lines and expressways had barely been opened in Athens in time for the 2004 Summer Games.

“And we finished half an hour before the first game,” Sunil Gulati, the president of the United States Soccer Federation, said about the 1994 World Cup in the U.S.

But a tournament for 32 national teams, including the woeful national team of South Africa, automatically invited as host, is a huge task from a nation still only 14 years past gigantic change. A caretaker government is in charge at the moment, awaiting a new election in 2009, but Jordaan suavely noted that Germany had a change of parties as well as chancellors shortly before the highly successful 2006 World Cup.

South Africa will be fine. Obama will do great things. And in 2010, the world will have something else to celebrate: the wonderful experience of an African World Cup ...

World Cup Not Affected by World Economy?

Apparently football's greatest tournament isn't affected by world economics ...

According to Danny Jordaan, president of the South African organizing committee, the world economic crisis will only have a "limited impact" on preparations for the 2010 World Cup.

Jordaan said stadium construction costs had gone up by 10 percent compared with the initial budget, due to the rising cost of steel, concrete and exchange rate variations.

"These increases were calculated some while ago and all costs are now frozen. There will therefore not be an impact on our stadium budget," he added.

"No one in the world can say they are not affected by the world economic crisis but its impact should be less on our country. What worries us the most is the long term consequences and the quicker we get through this, the better. We are keeping an eye on what is happening but as I speak there is not a serious or direct impact on World Cup preparations."

MY POV: Well, at least something is immune from the pressures of the world economic crisis. Why not let it be football? Of course we all know that the Cup's attendance figures may suffer and the South African economy may be impacted a bit during the games.

But it's nice to know there's a stable constant in this world: football.

Something tells me that people will pay out of their nose no matter their economic situation should their country make the Cup ...

Blatter to Visit South Africa Next Week

While most of the world is in qualification mode for the 2010 World Cup, the host country South Africa is also in 'qualification mode.'

FIFA president Sepp Blatter visits South Africa next week and organizers of the 2010 World Cup are confident the head of football's organizing body will like what he sees.

There's been talk of moving the World Cup from South Africa to another country more prepared to handle it, like the United States or Germany. So this visit by Blatter and his cronies takes on a significant measure of importance.

Will they like what they see? Will they deem the country fit to host the biggest sporting event in the world?

Blatter begins a four-day visit to South Africa September 14, during which he'll visit World Cup facilities in Johannesburg and Cape Town, World Cup Local Organising Committee (LOC) chief Danny Jordaan said.

"We have made tremendous progress and we hope to showcase this progress to him during his visit," Jordaan told journalists while wiping sweat from his brow.

While the news that FIFA might move the World Cup startled the local organizing chiefs, they're sure FIFA will like what they see this week.

"We are confident that we can host the competition. Long before 2010 all the (10) stadia for the competition will be ready," Jordaan said, adding that an expected change in government next year will not affect the game hosting.

General elections are scheduled to be held next year in South Africa.

Approximately three million tickets will be sold for the 2010 World Cup in which 32 teams will participate, the LOC head of legal and tickets department, Leslie Sedibe, said.

A total of 120,000 complimentary tickets will be handed out to FIFA and LOC officials as well as "builders" of the stadia, he said.

The World Cup, will be preceded next year by the FIFA Confederations Cup, to be staged in four stadia across South Africa from June 14 to 28 next year.

The draw for the Confederations Cup, will be made on November 22 this year and the tickets will be put on sale five days later, he also said.

An estimated three million people will be at the stadia for the World Cup's 64 matches while 30 billion people across the globe will watch the matches on the television, organizers said.

South Africa, which budgeted 30 billion rand (3.8 billion dolllars/ 2.6 billion euros) to host the World Cup, has recently requested a supplementary budget of three billion rand to meet the rising cost of materials from the government, Jordaan said.

"We have engaged government on a 10 percent increase on the World Cup budget. The increase is due to the effects of the global economy and the rising costs on our budget, including the rising cost of diesel" he stated.

MY POV: As I've stated before, it would be devastating to African football should FIFA move the Cup from South Africa. I'm more than confident Blatter and his henchman will like what they see next week. They better ... why wouldn't they??

FIFA FINALLY Says Something About Zimbabwe

Leave it to FIFA to wait for the most opportune time to condemn a despot.

Today, South Africa 2010's organizing committee finally came out and said the 2010 tournament and the continent need peace in Zimbabwe. You think?

FIFA general-secretary Jerome Valcke and Danny Jordaan, the chief executive officer of the South African organizing committee discussed the economic and political crises in neighboring Zimbabwe.

South Africa is the main regional power and has been accused of doing too little to push for reform in Zimbabwe. Some activists have even threatened a campaign similar to the pressure Olympic host China has faced over Tibet.

MY POV: Read this great editorial from the New York Times for more about this movement.

Jordaan, though, said Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, accused of killing political opponents and ruining a once vibrant economy, was resisting South African President Thabo Mbeki's "quiet diplomacy" as well as more vocal international criticism.

"It's clear that Mugabe has ignored everyone, including Mbeki," Jordaan said. "Why must South Africa be singled out when he ignores the whole world?" MY POV: Because you're the regional power and your influence could stifle Mugabe's dictatorial ways.

He said he hoped for a diplomatic breakthrough soon.

"Before we come to 2010, we must have a stable Zimbabwe," Jordaan said. "It's in all our interests." MY POV: Sorry for being cynical, but it sounds like once their bank accounts are involved, they finally care about the Zimbabwe situation. SA officials know that if the situation in Zimbabwe continues to persist, their World Cup could be affected. So now they care ...

Tournament organizers have already felt the impact of Zimbabwe's turmoil, he said. South Africa needs all the hotel rooms it can get, and Jordaan envisions some soccer fans spending their nights in neighboring Swaziland and Mozambique. High-end hotels in Zimbabwe's Victoria Falls area would also be ideal, but Jordaan said they aren't on the list because of Zimbabwe's predicament.

Valcke was asked whether FIFA was using its influence to encourage Mbeki on the Zimbabwe question.

"The World Cup is a huge leverage, but there are limits," Valcke said. "The World Cup doesn't give you the power to push President Mbeki to say anything other than what he wants to say .... We can just say that we are concerned ... and we have to find a solution."

MY POV: I don't think this is the last we'll hear of this situation. Football is the people's game and something is bound to boil over should this Mugabe situation persist. The Zimbabwean people, the South African people and anyone that cares about the situation there will make their voices heard loud and clear.

USA World Cup in 2010?

Since the time FIFA president Sepp Blatter announced that the 2010 World Cup would be staged in South Africa, people have wondered whether the Cup would actually be held in the African country.

Will South Africa be able to host the World Cup? Will people travel to a country riddled with crime problems for the biggest sporting event in the world? Will companies invest in the African nation?

2010 World Cup organizing committee chief Danny Jordaan has worked hard to squash negative assumptions, assuring everyone the World Cup in South Africa (SA) will be a huge success.

Still, Blatter has again stirred controversy by saying that SA could still lose the rights to host the 2010 World Cup in the event of a catastrophe. MY POV: What catastrophe?

However, Jordaan downplayed the concerns.

"I have spoken to Blatter and he reaffirmed that only God can prevent South Africa staging the World Cup in 2010," Jordaan said. "Blatter has gone out of his way to bring the 2010 World Cup to South Africa. It makes no sense for him to say he has another plan. Obviously FIFA must have a plan if we suffered a major natural catastrophe, but that is all."

Yet, Blatter keeps talking about a contingency. And there are problems.

According to the Zimbabwean, 'a group of committed and professional Zimbabwean journalists and friends from around the world who have come together to start the first physical newspaper for Zimbabweans in exile', there are growing fears that Zimbabwe's economic and political crisis could impact negatively on the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

This is the warning of analysts who believe the problems in President Robert Mugabe's country could spill into South Africa and the rest of the region, and thus make the region volatile ahead of the global football fiesta.

Zimbabwe Exiles Forum (ZEF) director Gabriel Shumba said the prevailing situation did not bode well for the hosting of a successful event.

"The possibility of a civil war is very high (in Zimbabwe), which can only mean that the Zimbabwe issue will in practice impact massively on the region as a threat to regional peace," he said.

So where does the USA fit into all this?


According to boston.com, the USA could step in should South Africa be declared unable to host the Cup. (Yes, I'm having a little fun with the picture above ... I am American, by the way.)

"I would be a very negligent president if I didn't have a Plan B ready for the 2010 World Cup," Blatter said in an interview in Vienna Sunday.

A decision on confirming South Africa as the first African country to play host to the World Cup will be made following the Confederations Cup, scheduled for June 14-28, 2009.

Eight countries will participate - Brazil (South American champion), Egypt (Africa), Iraq (Asia), Italy (World Cup), South Africa (host), Spain (Europe), the US (CONCACAF), and an Oceania representative.

Stadium construction delays and security fears have raised concerns that South Africa might not be capable of hosting the event.

"We will decide after the test of the Confederations Cup and only a catastrophe would put the alternative plan into effect," Blatter said. "The World Cup is a logistical challenge and South Africa wants to shows the world it is able to do it."

The US is among the few countries capable of hosting a World Cup on short notice.

MY POV: I understand Blatter's need to make contingency plans for the Cup. But does he need to talk about it every month?

Does he really think this instills confidence in the people of South Africa?

Look, we all know the problems hosting a World Cup in South Africa present.
From SA crime to regional difficulties, everyone involved knew hosting a Cup in SA wouldn't be easy.

But as Jordaan has said many times in rebuttal to Blatter's comments, the money is streaming in, the stadiums are being built and the infrastructure is growing.

Why harp about the need for contingency in every public comment about the 2010 Cup? How come Blatter didn't do this with Germany 2006 or Korea/Japan 2002? Why haven't we heard criticism of Brazil 2014? Brazil's soccer federation and soccer infrastructure is in shambles. Crime is just as rampant in the South American nation. Why no talk of a contingency there?

If FIFA wanted SA to prove their worth in 2009 with the Confederations Cup, I wish they had just named the USA the host of the 2010 Cup from the beginning.

I see SA having to pass a 'quiz' in 2009 as a slap in the face. They're doing what needs to be done. Why keep examining every fiber of their build-up? Does anyone in FIFA have confidence in SA?

What do you think? Please leave comments and opinions.

Jordaan Speaks and We Listen

When the chief executive officer for the 2010 World Cup organizing committee Danny Jordaan speaks, we tend to listen.

Not only is the man educated and inspired, he's the head of South Africa's efforts to make the first-ever African World Cup a riveting success.

Today, two separate Jordaan tidbits.

First, Jordaan is tired of being asked whether the nation will have everything ready on time.

He also says the 2010 tournament will be the most commercially successful in soccer history.

'We are selling tickets and people still ask 'Will you be ready?''' Jordaan said Tuesday on a visit to the Euro 2008 tournament.

''The teams are playing qualification for the World Cup in South Africa. These national teams, if they just look on their sleeves, they will see 2010 World Cup South Africa. That's what they are playing for. So it is a reality.''

Jordaan helped South Africa become host after it was narrowly beaten by Germany in voting for the 2006 World Cup. He said critics who thought FIFA had arranged a backup host were wrong.

''I think it was misconception in the world that there was a so-called Plan B,'' said Jordaan, chief executive officer of the South African 2010 organizing committee. ''It was just not real. I think it's a lack of understanding. I think it's ignorance, frankly.''

''If there was an issue around the hosting of the World Cup in South Africa, then the commercial partners of FIFA, the big multinational companies who actually pay to be associated with the event, would say, 'We want to pay less for South Africa than for Germany. You might give us a discount,' '' he said.

''Did they insist on a discount? No. Are they paying more? Yes. That is why you find that the German World Cup generated $2.8 billion. The commercial program is not done yet, but South African World Cup is generating $3.2 billion. So which World Cup has produced the highest revenue in the history of FIFA? The 2010 World Cup. It's outperformed every other World Cup.''

MY POV: Please click the link to read more of Jordaan's comments. You have to admire the fire and passion Mr. Jordaan has for the South African Cup. He believes and makes us believe in the process. I think he's right on every point. SA 2010 is going to be a tremendous success ...

But wait, there's more!

Jordaan thinks an African team can reach the 2010 World Cup final. Why not??

"African players like Eto'o, Drogba and Essien are now among the best players in the top leagues in the world," he told a news conference at the Euro 2008 tournament.

"African teams will be able to compete in 2010. By 2010, African teams will have the correct level of support to be major contenders.

"That shows the progress African football has made over the last five years."

Cameroon's Samuel Eto'o, Didier Drogba of Ivory Coast and Ghana's Michael Essien have become key figures at top European clubs. Eto'o helped Barcelona win the 2006 Champions League, while Drogba and Essien have enjoyed trophy success in England with Chelsea.

No African team has gone beyond the quarter-finals of any World Cup to date. A last eight place was achieved by Cameroon in 1990 and Senegal in 2002.

"We want to see an African team in the final for the first time," Jordaan said, adding there were a number of nations who had shown they could do well in the finals, including Ghana, Cameroon and Nigeria.

"There is no reason that an African team cannot reach the final on African soil," he said.

"Football in Africa can create a truly wonderful celebration," he said.

MY POV: We're with you there, Danny. Now can you please help me get to SA? PLEASE?