Kickoff (Cape Town)
5 December 2008
With just on six months left before the opening game of the Fifa Confederations Cup in South Africa next year, the spotlight is shifting to Johannesburg, the city that will host the tournament's opening game between Bafana Bafana and Asian champions, Iraq on June 14.
Preparations are underway in the city to create a lasting impression on visitors who are likely to make the trip to the tip of the African continent to watch the eight top teams battle for supremacy.
"We want to change the misconception some people have about our city; we want to showcase to the world exactly what Johannesburg is capable of doing. I'm confident that we will make the right impression to our visitors," Johannesburg 2010 executive director, Sibongile Mazibuko told FIFA.com.
It seems as though there is a dual incentive to do well in Jo'burg.
Bafana Bafana are hoping to win the game against Iraq to give the team greater confidence, while the city also wants to show the world what it is capable of achieving.
Although the recent draw for the Confederations Cup held at Sandton City in Johannesburg went without any hitches, its citizens realise that they will be even more under the microscope come June 2009.
"People of Johannesburg are very excited about both the Confederations Cup and the 2010 Fifa World Cup. We understand the work that goes behind organising an event like the Confederations Cup and we are therefore preparing for all situations," said Mazibuko.
"We have already identified places where we will have public viewing facilities because we know that not everyone will get a ticket inside the stadium. This is an African event and we want to make sure that our people get to experience both events."
The city has attracted some major international events over recent years, including the forthcoming Miss World gala, something the organisers believe will raise Johannesburg's profile to the rest of the world as its official seek to bolster its claim as being South Africa's main city during the 2009 and 2010 Fifa events.
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