Official opposition Democratic Alliance leader Tony Leon was being a “party pooper” by selling South Africa short through his negative comments about the country’s ability to host the 2010 Soccer World Cup, says opposition Independent Democrats leader Patricia de Lille.
In a statement on Monday, released by ID spokesperson Steve Otter, De Lille said the fact was that South Africa will receive help from Africa and top technical experts around the world.
“Fifa will run the World Cup in 2010 using South African stadiums and with the unique flavour that all of our people will bring to this amazing event. We are actually better prepared than Germany was in 2002, even at this stage.
“There are obviously challenges. South Africans are very good at overcoming challenges.
“The whole world will help South Africa make this a success. The whole world wants South Africa to succeed. It is ironic that it is only a minority of our own people who believe we will fail. Tony Leon must get with the programme and join those of us who will put our hearts and souls into this important project.
“Nation-building is critical at this stage in our history and the World Cup in 2010 will be a huge push in this direction.”
De Lille said Cape Town Mayor Helen Zille is also showing the same kind of “negativity”. She said the DA “must decide, once and for all, to join the majority of patriotic South Africans who want to make a success of this country”.
She noted that Leon had been quoted as saying on Saturday that preparations for the 2010 Soccer World Cup in South Africa were slow and that questions remained about whether the country would be ready in time.
Leon said Parliament was moving slowly in “passing legislation that will enable South Africa to conform to Fifa’s requirements”. He said the country is also “lagging behind” in building new stadiums.
He said that while Fifa had recognised a potential in South Africa, the country needed to be honest about the challenges it faces.
Meanwhile, the National Assembly sport and recreation committee meets on Tuesday — with MPs being brought out of their mid-year recess — to consider the 2010 Fifa South Africa World Cup Special Measures Bill. The committee is sitting until Friday according to the parliamentary schedule. — I-Net Bridge