What do South Africans say about the World Cup? The Mail & Guardian will, in the following weeks, be canvassing residents of some of the major host cities to find out what the World Cup means to them.
M&G World Cup correspondent Niren Tolsi spoke to Durban municipal manager Mike Sutcliffe.
1. What are your expectations of the World Cup?
Our approach to the 2010 Fifa World Cup (called Our 2010 and Beyond Strategy) is one of five key long-term programmes we have been driving at a strategic level: (i) food security and housing for all; (ii) reducing the social wage (ICT and Public Transport); (iii) preparing for climate change and energy shifts; (iv) growing the port and manufacturing; (v) 2010 and Beyond eventing and tourism strategy.
Each of these consisted of doing a fair amount of research on the international experience and then developing our own strategies. So our expectations were to ensure that everything we did for the 2010 Fifa World Cup was part of a longer-term strategy and had four main drivers: create the icon (stadium, beachfront); ensure we keep maintenance costs as low as possible; build economic opportunities; and environmental sustainability.
Already we feel we have laid a great base on each of these and know that the 2010 Fifa World Cup will ramp up the base.
2. What has been the biggest challenge facing South Africa in terms of readying itself for and hosting the World Cup?
Afropessimism.
What has been Durban’s biggest challenge? Afropessimism and resource challenges (skilled project managers and other technical and financial resources)
3. What has been the biggest shortcoming in our preparing for and hosting of the World Cup?
Poor integrated planning at a national level.
What has been Durban’s biggest shortcoming? Resources.
4. What about Durban will mark it out as especially different for World Cup tourists?
The warmth of people; a great beach; food, fashion and music environment; and a spectacular stadium.
5. How do you see yourself spending most of the days during the World Cup?
Assisting in solving problems.
6. Three tips on things to do between matches in Durban?
The Fan Park and beach festival/public viewing area; visit[ing] game parks; and uShaka Marine World/Inanda Heritage Site.
7. How do you think the World Cup will change soccer (its infrastructure, administration and the way it is played) in Durban?
It will stabilise PSL (Premier Soccer League) teams, and hopefully allow a more rational set of facilities from kick-abouts to Moses Mabhida.
8. What are Bafana chances in the tournament?
They’ll get to (the) round (of) 16.
Why? Home support, great coach, and they’ve got the right shape going at last.
Player(s) to watch out for? Bernard Parker and Lionel Messi.
9. Anything that you would have done differently in the preparations of Bafana Bafana?
Never included Benni McCarthy in the team or anything to do with the team.
10. Personal tip to lift the cup?
Germany
Why? Great young team four years ago. Stayed out of the limelight.
11. Which matches will you be watching?
Have no tickets — any offers!