The president of soccer world governing body Fifa, Sepp Blatter, arrived in South Africa on Wednesday morning and said he is delighted to be involved in the first World Cup to be held in Africa.
Blatter, who was met at Johannesburg International airport by South African Football Association (Safa) president Molefi Oliphant and CEO Danny Jordaan, had pressed hard for soccer’s showpiece to be rotated between continents.
”After my visit to South Africa four years ago and subsequently having worked with Safa and other friends in Africa, I was able to convince Fifa that the rotation of the World Cup must become a reality,” Blatter said at a press conference.
”So it is with pleasure that we now we have a guarantee that the first tournament on African soil will be played in South Africa under the auspices of Safa and under the guidance and guarantees of President Thabo Mbeki and his government.”
Safa vice-president and 2010 local organising committee chairperson Irvin Khoza was not at the airport to greet Blatter, as he took his granddaughter to her first day of school.
During his two-day trip to the country Blatter will meet with the leadership of football in South Africa, the editors of major publications and Premier Soccer League clubs. He also has an engagement with Mbeki scheduled.
Blatter is expected to use his visit to urge local soccer administrators to unite for the sake of successful 2010 World Cup finals.
While meeting Mbeki, Fifa will be made Companions of OR Tambo.
On Thursday, the Fifa boss will meet the LOC and Safa members. Although nobody is talking about what is on the agenda, Blatter is expected to discuss recent unwelcome media publicity surrounding the in-fighting between LOC members who are involved in a power struggle over the running of the 2010 World Cup finals.
Blatter is also expected to resolve issues surrounding the spat between Oliphant and Fifa member Emmanuel Maradas, which evolved in a media slanging match late last year when Maradas criticised Oliphant’s management of Safa.
From its side, the LOC will brief the Fifa delegation on the plans and progress made regarding the infrastructure development and upgrading of stadiums.
The delegation was taken to a leading Sandton, Johannesburg, hotel on arrival. Blatter will meet South African sports editors later on Wednesday.
He is expected to discuss the media’s role during the 2010 World Cup. In the evening, Blatter will have a dinner with various local football stakeholders. The Premier Soccer League executive committee and representatives of the various companies sponsoring football activities have been invited to attend the dinner.
”The president of Fifa has asked to meet the South African football stakeholders. We don’t know what is that he would like to discuss with us during the dinner,” said Oliphant.
According to sources, Blatter will plead with the local football administrators to stop the infighting and work together in the preparation for the 2010 World Cup.
This comes after the South African football governing body was rocked by allegations of financial irregularities, maladministration and infighting.
During his meeting with Mbeki in Pretoria on Thursday, Blatter is expected to discuss the role to be played by the government in the build-up to the World Cup.
Fifa is reported to be happy that Mbeki has fully committed the government to the hosting of the event, the first World Cup to be staged on African soil.
Presidential spokesperson Bheki Khumalo has confirmed that Blatter will be presented with the Companions of OR Tambo Award on Thursday.
”The award will be given to Blatter on behalf of the entire Fifa for their fight against apartheid,” explained Khumalo, who also confirmed the Fifa delegation meeting with Mbeki.
Thursday’s meeting with Safa will be the second time the executive and Blatter have got together. Swiss-based Blatter first met with the executive committee in 1998 in Johannesburg prior to the Fifa elections, when he was canvassing for support.
Blatter will also ask Oliphant to change his mind after his announcement early last year that he will not be seeking a fourth term as Safa president.
Oliphant is also reported to be under tremendous pressure from some of the politicians and soccer leaders to stand for re-election during the Safa annual general meeting in September.
Blatter is likely to use some of his time to meet with the Premier Soccer League clubs, probably on Wednesday.
The Fifa delegation returns to Switzerland on Thursday night. — Sapa