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2010 World Cup: South Africa on Track (24.11.2006)
The world football governing body, FIFA, is satisfied with preparations underway in South Africa for the 2010 World Cup.
A delegation of the world football governing body, FIFA, was this week in South Africa to appraise the state of preparation for the 2010 World Cup. The delegation, led by Horst Schmidt, who is to take up a new post as FIFA`s coordinator in South Africa, also included FIFA general secretary, Urs Linsi, and marketing director, Jerome Valcke. The main focus of the visit was on the progress being made on building and upgrading the 10 stadia which are to host the tournament.
Speaking to reporters last Wednesday after the inspection of the venues, the FIFA delegation expressed satisfaction with South Africa`s preparations for Africa’s first World Cup. "FIFA is very happy and satisfied with the progress made. After evaluating the plans for the construction of the stadiums, we were satisfied that there is enough time to construct, equip, and test the stadiums before the day of the kick-off. The task ahead becomes very
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clear," Horst Schmidt said. The German, who was very instrumental in the organization of this year’s tournament in his homeland, also believes that South Africa had made more rapid progress than their German predecessors. "Not only is the country on time, but a bit ahead of Germany at the same time. We are happy with preparations and now it`s for the Local Organising Committee to maintain the momentum," he said.
Irvin Khoza, chairman of South Africa’s local organising committee said he was happy with FIFA`s vote of confidence. "The schedule will be met as proposed and come the first quarter of next year, construction must start," he said at a press conference in Johannesburg.
These positive remarks by the FIFA delegation is greatly comforting to South Africans and Africans as a whole. In the last couple of months, there have been criticisms over Africa’s ability to host a world cup. President Thabo Mbeki pledged last month that South Africa would confound international sceptics by meeting its deadlines and staging a well-oiled World Cup.
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