2010 – Football World Cup -  An African World Cup!!!

South Africa winning the bid to host the 2010 World Cup was driven in main by the soccer fraternity with government and business playing a supportive role.

The Department of Sport and Recreation is committed to the 2010 vision and believes strongly that any investment in soccer means an investment in democracy and lasting peace in the Province.The vision of 2010 must be shared by all the citizens of the Province and we must emerge from this experience having developed soccer to international standards and, which must have serious economic spin-offs for the people.

Whilst the financing and development of infrastructure to comply with FIFA specifications is of paramount importance, they must go hand in hand with the provision and development of sports fields in disadvantaged communities. Sport and Recreation is leaps and bounds ahead of its projected targets
and by 2010 we are hoping to have built and serviced 50 soccer fields around the Province.Any fiscal benefit from 2010 needs to be spread throughout the Province and must be enjoyed by all the people.

As we develop a legacy, we must endeavour to develop the capacity of the Province to host an event of this magnitude. In this respect  the Department is forging ahead with a number of capacity building programmes in soccer administration, coaching, event and team management. Our partnership with SAFA has grown from strength to strength and together we are geared towards ensuring that we significantly increase the number and quality of players, administrators, coaches and technical officials.

The Department has appointed a dedicated 2010 Task Team who have begun to rollout their business plan. Amongst others, the restructuring of SAFA in the Province and the establishment of a Provincial Academy of Soccer will be immediate priorities for this team. The Department has set aside a budget of R16,000,000 per annum to effect their overall 2010 strategy.

With Durban already guaranteed a Semi-Final we must all thrust our energies towards ensuring we are ready for this mammoth undertaking. It’s a time of reckoning for South Africa and the Department is more than prepared to meet the challenges of the next few years.

This is the first time that the Football World Cup is taking place in Africa and South Africa  has enjoyed the support of their neighbours on the continent in winning the bid, hence South Africa will have to deliver an African World Cup, a World Cup that will benefit not only South Africa but one that will leave a legacy for Africa.