Our Staff
3 June 2007
Harare — WORLD soccer-governing body Fifa said yesterday a decision is yet to be made whether teams taking part in the 2010 World Cup could set base outside South Africa once the tournament kicks-off.
Fifa director of communication Markus Ziegler told the media at the ongoing Congress in Zurich, Switzerland, that the football mother body is yet to make a decision on proposals by South Africa's Local Organising Committee, to change the rules governing the global showpiece.
Under existing rules, teams can train in neighbouring countries but have to move to South Africa at least seven days before the tournament kicks off. The teams would then remain within the country until they are booted out of the competition -- but the LOC had requested a waiver to share spin-offs of the event with their neighbours.
"This is Africa's World Cup and we are making a case to Fifa for a change in the rules," Danny Jordaan, chief executive of the 2010 organising committee, said in April, insisting the showcase had to be shared among all African countries in general, and the region in particular. Jordaan had proposed teams only move to South Africa on the eve of their matches, adding the bases would be "within a 90-minute plane journey of the match venues."
The announcement had seen such countries as Zimbabwe announcing grand plans for the showpiece, in a bid to attract qualifying teams and cash in on visiting fans. On Wednesday last week Education, Sports and Culture Minister Aenias Chigwedere announced the Cabinet had approved a report by a ministerial taskforce to renovate old stadiums and construct new ones in provinces that would host visiting teams and tourists.
"In Mutare, either a new stadium would be constructed or Sakubva will be renovated. In Bulawayo, we have recommended the renovation of Barbourfields Stadium and White City Stadium. New stadiums would be constructed in Beitbridge and Victoria, while in Masvingo, Mucheke would be renovated," Chigwedere told reporters at a Press briefing in Harare. Chigwedere added work on these facilities would have to start before the end of this year.
But with Fifa insisting the LOC's proposals are yet to be agreed upon, government might end up embarking on a costly exercise to little benefit.
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