CEO of the 2010 World Cup, Danny Jordaan on Thursday promised South Africa would stage the best final draw in Cape Town on December 4 and the best World Cup in Fifa’s history.
”We will show the world what they have been missing for the past 100 years by making this World Cup, the first ever in Fifa’s 100-year-plus history in Africa, the best ever,” he said during a flag raising ceremony held at Safa House in Johannesburg.
Flags of the 32 countries competing in the World Cup next June would fly there until the end of tournament on July 11.
Jordaan said six of the new stadiums being built for the showpiece would be in the top 10 of the best stadiums in the world.
”In fact two [including Soccer City] would be in the top six of the world best stadiums.”
With the flag raising ceremony completed the story line for journalists had changed.
”There [are] no more questions about if the stadiums will be ready. They are all on schedule. Some will be even completed earlier than schedule. The story now moves to the teams in the finals, the players, coaches and most importantly the fans. It is the supporters who will be arriving here in their hundreds of thousands to support their countries and we will make sure we make them feel at home.”
Jordaan issued a challenge to the 31 ambassadors of the qualifying countries who attended Thursday’s ceremony to make sure they put bums on seats.
”Bafana fans must respond in vast numbers and make sure the stadiums are full. But we are expecting big things from the 31 countries who have qualified. I will be conducting monthly briefings from now on as regards ticket sales.”
Jordaan was looking for bigger numbers that arrived in Germany for the 2006 World Cup from countries such as Holland who topped the list with 150 000 fans, England had 100 000, Japan 45 and Mexico 35 000. Between 450 000 and 500 000 fans were expected to attend the tournament.
While foreign journalists again highlighted South Africa’s poor crime record Jordaan expected a secure event.
”South Africa has hosted 140 world class events since 1994 without one single problem, including June’s Confederations Cup, the cricket and rugby world cups plus many other major international events without any trouble.
”We have done our homework as making sure fans, teams and officials will be safe at match venues and training grounds. We do not anticipate any problems. We have had 9,8 million visitors to South Africa this year. My responsibility is to ensure match and training venues, hotels where fans and teams are staying are secure, and this I can guarantee.”
The dignitaries were welcomed by the Co-operative Governance Minister Sicelo Shiceka and president of the South African Football
Association Kirsten Nematandani who brought the good wishes of former president Nelson Mandela to the counties who had qualified.
Said Nematandani: ”Madiba was instrumental in securing the World Cup, but unfortunately he could not be here, but sends his best wishes to the qualifiers.” — Sapa