Mninawa Ntloko
23 November 2007
Johannesburg — DURBAN'S hosting capabilities will come under close international scrutiny when the 2010 Soccer World Cup preliminary draw, the Soweto derby between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, and the cricket one-day international between SA and New Zealand are all held at the coastal city this weekend.
Danny Jordaan -- the CEO of the 2010 World Cup local organising committee -- said yesterday about 144 broadcasters would be in Durban for a preliminary draw that will cost more than R30m and has generated unprecedented interest from around the world.
"The draw will be the first event linked to the World Cup in SA in three years' time," he said, of an event that 170 territories worldwide have requested to televise. "Fifa executives, international journalists, guests and the participating nations will be in attendance and Durban's hosting ability will be under the magnifying glass. They (visitors) will all then give their opinion on what they see and hear."
International stars such as former Chelsea captain Marcel Desailly, European, African and Fifa World Player of the Year winner George Weah, multiple African Footballer of the Year winner Abedi Pele, former Real Madrid star Christian Karembeu, South African football legends Kaizer Motaung and Jomo Sono, and Lucas Radebe, among others, will be in attendance.
"We will change the history of preliminary draws with this one," Jordaan said, of a draw that will be conducted by Fifa general secretary Jerome Valcke at the city's International Convention Centre.
Jordaan said the Premier Soccer League (PSL) would benefit by association as the international media contingent that will be in SA this weekend has developed an unusually high interest in tomorrow's Soweto derby between Chiefs and Pirates.
While South African football's biggest game will be beamed live to more than 43 European countries and to more than 22,3-million households in nine languages, Jordaan said the huge media contingent already in Durban will be curious to see first-hand what the fuss is all about.
"This derby will show our visitors the passion of our country for football. Our visitors will be surprised to find Chiefs and Pirates supporters seating together in the same sections of the stadium during a derby match.
"In Europe it is highly unlikely that you will see Chelsea supporters sharing the same section with Manchester United fans.
"In SA that is not the case. Many of the European journalists who are here will find it strange."
This uniquely South African phenomenon was also noted by Trevor Phillips when he arrived in SA to take over as PSL CEO.
Phillips said the Soweto derby was a uniquely different experience to anything he had ever seen at a derby match and he was impressed by the spectacle provided by the supporters, whom he described as "vibrant, colourful and outrageously dressed (in their football outfits)."
In the midst of the World Cup preliminary draw and the Soweto derby, there is also the small matter of an one-day international that is expected to attract as many as 18000 spectators to nearby Kingsmead.
Julie-May Ellingson, head of the municipality's strategic project unit and 2010 programme, said the whole weekend would be a huge logistical challenge, starting tonight when Fifa hosts a beach party.
"Because of all these activities, there will be a coordinating task team of military, metro police, national intelligence, SAPS, military reservists, police reservists, health and emergence services, disaster management, and an environment team, among others," Ellingson said.
She said a security blanket would be thrown over KwaZulu-Natal to ensure the safety of the entire province. "The security will be visible (tonight), tomorrow and on Sunday."
Plans are in place to prevent the anticipated traffic congestion as about 3000 guests converge on the Convention Centre, while cricket fans throng to Kingsmead.
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