Harare — THE Fifa World Cup Trophy arrives in Harare tonight turning the Sunshine City into the focus of a globe that has already been fascinated by the hosting of the global football showcase in Africa, for the first time in its history, next year.

Zimbabwe will finally take its turn to host the ultimate prize in world sport -- the Fifa World Cup trophy roadshow -- tonight and tomorrow with organisers of the event promising that they will put up a show that will illuminate the capital and impress those who, at the world football controlling body, are in charge of the programme.

The local organisers have promised to put up the best show in Africa.

President Mugabe, the only Zimbabwean citizen allowed to handle the iconic trophy, is expected to lead the nation in welcoming the trophy when it touches down in Harare this evening.

A chartered Coca-Cola jet is scheduled to touch down soon after 7pm at the Harare International Airport and some Cabinet ministers, local football fans and Coca-Cola officials are expected to witness the grand arrival.

The trophy will then be unveiled between 7pm and 10pm and then kept heavily guarded at the Harare International Conference Centre overnight.

Tomorrow, there will be a special musical gig at the Harare International Conference Centre, to celebrate the occasion where fans are expected to provide a carnival atmosphere.

Lucky fans with VIP tickets could get their photos taken close to the trophy, but will not be allowed handle the box containing the trophy.

The trophy has already been to more than 40 African countries, but the Zimbabwean leg is likely to provide the best celebrations for the iconic trophy.

Zimbabwe is just one of the destinations in a 225-day extravaganza in which the World Cup Trophy is scheduled to visit 86 countries and afford soccer fans an opportunity to see it very close.

All African countries, except Somalia and Eritrea, will host the trophy on its African leg of the 2010 World Cup showcase with the trophy arriving in South Africa on December 3.

Its arrival in South Africa is also scheduled to coincide with the 2010 World Cup draw to be held in the same country the following day.

The trophy began its maiden African journey on September 21 in Cairo, after arriving in the Egyptian capital -- which also houses the Confederation of African Football headquarters -- from the Fifa headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland.

For Zimbabwe, the coming of the World Cup Trophy is more than just a massive event but part of a process through which the nation can rebuild its image.

Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Walter Mzembi yesterday pointed out that Zimbabwe was ready to host the iconic World Cup, for at least 36 hours, before it heads to Malawi.

Yesterday, the trophy was in Mauritius.

It was in Madagascar by the end of the day from where it should be making its way to Harare.

Mzembi, who is still bubbling with excitement after Zimbabwe successfully hosted the Cosafa Senior Challenge Cup tournament last month, believes the World Cup Trophy tour is just as significant as the regional football showcase.

"The country's number one citizen (President Mugabe) will be at the airport to officiate during the ceremony to give the event a national outlook as has been the case elsewhere where the trophy has been," he said.

Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki, Egypt's Hosni Mubarak and Uganda's Yoweri Museveni are among African leaders who have received the trophy during its whirlwind tour.

Mzembi said provisions have been made to transport fans to the Harare International Airport from some suburbs and Zifa House.

He was hopeful that people from all walks of life would throng the airport for the once-in-a-lifetime event.

"I am appealing to all Zimbabweans to throng the airport and do our traditional welcome of the trophy," said Mzembi.

"Transport has been arranged to make sure all those who are interested in welcoming the trophy can be transported without hassles but everyone should be there by 5pm."

He said buses would be picking people from various pick-up points, which include, Zifa House, Town House, Epworth, Domboshava, Borrowdale Machipisa, Kuwadzana and Mufakose.

Tomorrow, there will be a musical gig at the HICC where Somali musician K'naan, who is based in Canada, Alick Macheso, Suluman Chimbetu and Alexio Kawara have confirmed their participation.

Jazz 105 -- the upmarket joint in the city -- has organised an all-white party for tomorrow night where its patrons will celebrate the coming of the World Cup Trophy to Zimbabwe. Suluman is scheduled to perform there, too.

Entry at the musical gig at the HICC is free while entry to the VIP area, which is housing the trophy, is by special invitation or tickets that were being given out during Coca-Cola roadshows.

Coca-Cola are the official Fifa partners for the World Cup and have been running promotional road shows around the country to raise awareness on the World Cup Trophy tour.

During the gig, fans will go through dancing competitions, penalty shootouts, dancing and imitating goal-scoring celebrations.

Fans with the most outstanding celebrations will get Coca-Cola products, vuvuzelas, match balls, T-shirts and caps.

Zimbabwe National Soccer Supporters Association leader Eddie "Mboma" Nyatanga, whose organisation did a great job mobilising supporters to the Cosafa Senior Challenge Cup, yesterday appealed to the local fans to be at the airport this evening.

Nyatanga was in Johannesburg yesterday where he met some officials who are working on the 2010 World Cup project and said the South Africans were impressed with the support they were receiving from Zimbabwe.

"The people here appreciate the part that we played when we brought in fans for the Fifa Confederations Cup from Zimbabwe and they value the support that we gave them in that area and they appreciate it a lot," said Nyatanga, speaking from Johannesburg.

"We have been discussing a number of things related to fans, now that tickets are being sold for the 2010 World Cup, and I can tell you that we are in for some interesting times.

"There will be a lot of people looking at the way we celebrate the coming of the World Cup Trophy to Zimbabwe because of our fans' participation in the Confederations Cup and that is why it is important for us to make it a big success.

"My appeal is for the fans to come to the airport and be part of the huge crowd that welcomes the trophy because this is just a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and my prayers are that the weather remains good for such a special occasion."