BuaNews (Tshwane)
Janine Du Plessis
22 November 2007
Parliament — The 2010 FIFA World Cup Preliminary Draw to be held in Durban on Sunday has been hailed by Cabinet as the first major FIFA event on African soil.
Briefing the media on the outcome of a Cabinet meeting, Government spokesperson Themba Maseko said it was noted that the preparations towards hosting the preliminary draw were proceeding according to plan.
Cabinet called the event a milestone event prior to the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
"This occasion is the first major FIFA event on African soil and will give the world a taste of the outstanding world cup Africans will deliver in 2010," Mr Maseko said on Thursday.
Hundreds of local and international media and delegates have arrived in Durban ahead of the event which will be addressed by President Thabo Mbeki and a host of other dignitaries.
FIFA General-Secretary Jerome Valcke will conduct the draw.
At least 170 territories have booked the television feed for the event, which is a new FIFA World Cup record and proof of the interest in South Africa as host of the world cup.
The preliminary draw will also see Africa's top artists perform to a global audience of millions.
Freshly Ground, the home-grown group which last year won a European Music Award and Judith Sephuma, whose debut album "A cry, A smile, A Dance" was released in 2001 will also be part of the show's line-up.
A special stage of over 6km's of pine wood has also been constructed to showcase the performers on the night of the draw.
Ahead of the draw, Bafana Bafana got the nation's pride soaring by defeating Canada's national soccer team 2-0 in an exhibition match, held to coincide with the draw's exciting line-up of events. Apart from enjoying the match, the public have been invited to come to Durban's New Beach area for a party hosted by the LOC and the host city of Durban on Friday at 8.30pm.
After the draw, Orlando Pirates and Kaiser Chiefs, two of the nation's most popular Premier League teams, will face off in the so-called Soweto Derby, right here in Durban.
Local Organising Committee Chief Executive Officer Danny Jordaan, speaking at the African Ministerial Diaspora conference on Sunday said: "The preliminary draw will attract 204 participating countries, of which 53 will be from Africa. Of those 53 African countries, only five will be able to qualify."
He said the event will be yet another opportunity to "raise the flag" with pride.
"The rational behind South Africa hosting the world cup was to raise the profile and reputation of the country and the continent," said Mr Jordaan.
He said once the five African qualifiers were known, South Africa would begin preparations towards holding friendly matches with those nations.
Last week, Mr Valcke said Durban was on target with its preparations to host the preliminary draw, despite a labour dispute which saw construction work at the Moses Mabhida stadium grind to a halt.
The KwaZulu-Natal province will host both the Confederations Cup in 2009 and 2010 matches at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, which is set to cost R2.2 billion.
Earlier this year, the Premier's Office said municipalities will have to define the Zulu brand and sell it to the international visitors attending the preliminary draw.
"When they arrive we must make sure they do not want to go back. The totality of their experience must be such that they will want to come back to our province in the time leading to 2010 and beyond," said Mr Ndebele at the time.
He said this will afford the province an opportunity to position and showcase itself from a tourism and investment point of view.
Mr Ndebele said KwaZulu-Natal's participation in the Soccerex conference in November will be another opportunity to market the province to an international audience.
After the preliminary draw, Soccerex, the biggest inter-business soccer convention in the world, will kick off in Gauteng from 25 to 28 November 2007 and for the following two years.
Soccerex provides Gauteng and the country with an international platform to showcase the province and the country as a destination for investment, tourism and major events, particularly in the build-up to the world cup.
The event is also expected to inject R7 billion into the Gauteng economy and create several employment opportunities.
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