/ 21 May 2010

My city, my World Cup: Helen Zille

My City

My city, my World Cup: Helen Zielle

In its ongoing series to gauge how South Africans feel about the imminent World Cup, Helen Zille, Western Cape premier, and former mayor of the Mother City tells Niren Tolsi about how she should have taken her balls back from Fifa and her long term feelings for Côte de I’voire striker Didier Drogba.

What are your expectations of the World Cup ?
My most optimistic expectation of the World Cup is that it will give ourselves, and the world, a new perception of who we are and what we can achieve. We have dealt with the preparations as well — often better — than other host countries. We still face negative international perceptions particularly regarding crime. With the world’s attention focused on this [World Cup], we can either mitigate these perceptions, or confirm them. It depends on us.

What has been the biggest challenge facing South Africa in terms of readying itself and hosting the World Cup?
Planning transport for a once-off event that can form the basis of a sustainable and viable public transport system for decades ahead.

What has been the biggest shortcoming in our preparing for and hosting of the WC?
Inadequate foresight on the impact of the international financial crisis on visitor numbers.

What about Cape Town will mark it out as especially different for World Cup tourists?
The physical beauty of the place, which I hope is being enhanced by competent governance.

Three tips on things to do between matches in Cape Town?
Get out of Cape Town. There is so much to do and see in the Province as a whole. Book a trip along the Garden Route, or up the West Coast and back, between matches.

How do you think the World Cup will change soccer in Cape Town? Sport in general? Society?
Soccer is much more than a game. It is a vehicle for a range of development projects: from infrastructure to life-skills education. If the administration of the game can improve to match the standard of the new infrastructure, it will be progress indeed. But I am not holding my breath.

Bafana’s chances?
I always support the underdog, and I’ve noticed, in a surprising number of cases, an underdog can win.

Player to watch out for? Please choose one SA and one international?
Steven Pienaar has had a sensational season with Everton and he is definitely the South African star. Internationally, the recent photo of Wayne Rooney taking his baby for a victory lap, stole my heart. His baby is a little replica of himself. You can see that he loves his kid more than his football. [Zille then calls later to see if her answers have been received and professes a long-term affection for Didier Drogba: “I really like him, have done for ages — but you just asked for one international favourite,” she moans good-naturedly.]

Anything that you would have done differently in the preparations of the team for the World Cup? In the preparations of your city? Your province?
I should have flexed my muscles in response to Fifa’s demands a long time ago. They are not a colonial power.

Tip for the cup? Why?
Watch Invictus — the story of how the Boks came from behind to win the Rugby World Cup. There is a precedent we can emulate.

How many matches will you be attending?
I have bought tickets for the quarterfinal and the semifinal in Cape Town. We also were successful in getting lottery tickets for the game in Cape Town between Cameroon and Netherlands.