Transport and security remain the key challenges facing world soccer governing body Fifa and the 2010 World Cup local organising committee.
Fifa secretary general Jerome Valcke said in Johannesburg on Wednesday he had been given assurances from Transport Minister Jeff Radebe that there would be enough transport for the 500 000 soccer fans expected to visit South Africa during the World Cup finals in June and July 2010.
”There will be an extra 1 400 taxis and buses available, plus Fifa will be bringing in a minimum of 3 000 vehicles for their own staff to get around the country.”
Valcke was also pleased to learn that 41 000 extra policemen would be employed and be on duty during the soccer showpiece.
”We are comfortable with the way things are progressing, But no matter how good the infrastructure is, we need the right and properly qualified people to run the event.”
Valcke also stressed Fifa did not expect any problems with next year’s general election.
”We have been assured that all commitments and guarantees given to Fifa will be honoured by the new government. So we have nothing to worry about on that score.
”Also it was [African National Congress president] Jacob Zuma who signed the Fifa guarantees in 2003 as the deputy president of South Africa when then-president Thabo Mbeki was not available.”
Valcke said Fifa was impressed by the two draws held in South Africa. Last year in Durban South Africa hosted the preliminary draw for the 2010 World Cup. Last weekend it staged the successful Confederations Cup draw.
”We are looking forward to South Africa making it three successful draws in a row on December 4 next year when we stage the World Cup draw in Johannesburg. We are expecting more than 1 500 delegates for that event.”
Valcke again stressed Fifa was not concerned by overseas media criticism of South Africa’s readiness to host the 2010 World Cup finals.
”No matter where we stage the World Cup there will be criticism. South Africa will host a successful event in 2010. We are more than happy with the progress of the new and renovated stadiums and we are confident they will all be ready on schedule, as everything appears to be well on track at the present.”
Meanwhile, as the host nation, South Africa will receive a seeding in the 2010 World Cup — but it will not be the kind of favourable draw that emanated from the weekend’s match-up for next year’s Confederations Cup.
This was disclosed on Wednesday by Valcke, who conceded the Confederations Cup draw in which Bafana Bafana were presented with an inviting opportunity of qualifying for the semifinals had emerged as ”freakishly” in favour of South Africa
World Cup progress reportAlthough current world top-ranked team Spain are in South Africa’s section, the Group A segment that also includes New Zealand and Iraq contains only one side among the top 58 teams in the world
The opposite Group B segment, which includes fancied teams like South American champions Brazil and World Cup holders Italy, is in direct contrast with four competitive countries all among the 24 leading teams in the Fifa rankings — and, further favouring Bafana, is the fact that two teams from each group will go through to the semifinals.
”Nothing like this will happen at the World Cup,” said the Fifa secretary general, ”with the eight groups of four teams all reasonably well-balanced.” — Sapa