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Africa: Teams Drawn to Play in 2010 Qualifiers
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BuaNews (Tshwane)
25 November 2007
Posted to the web 25 November 2007
Michael Appel
Durban
Over 156 countries held their breaths as the successful 2010 FIFA World Cup Preliminary Draw took place on Sunday announcing which teams will play against each other to qualify for the world cup
The preliminary draw, which was watched by over 170 countries all over the world, was successfully hosted by South Africa as the first major FIFA event on African soil.
President Thabo Mbeki, accompanied by a host a senior government officials and FIFA delegates as well as soccer greats of yesteryear, said the game of soccer had the amazing ability to promote unity through its educational, cultural and humanitarian values.
When correctly utilised, he said, football is indeed a school of life. "Football is a sport that touches the whole world."
Mr Mbeki said South Africa wanted to stage an event that will send ripples of confidence from Cape to Cairo. "[We want] an event that will create social and economic opportunities throughout Africa.
"We want to ensure that one day, historians will reflect upon the 2010 FIFA World Cup - a moment when Africa stood tall and resolutely turned the tide of centuries of poverty and conflict."
FIFA President Sepp Blatter, during his speech said the decision to bring the world cup to Africa for the first time would give the world the opportunity to give back to Africa.
"The continent has done so much for this sport in terms of players and clubs and it is justice that Africa hosts the world cup.
He added that the window into South Africa was opening up to the world through the media. "There is no doubt the world cup will be held here and it will be a success. No doubt."
At a breakfast held earlier in the day, Mr Blatter said he was dissatisfied with Bafana Bafana's performance. "It is important to have a strong national team and it is time the team wakes up. In January there will be the African Cup of Nations ... the team should be ready for a high-level competition."
He also said that he had noted that the South African media were reporting negatively on the country's preparedness to host the world cup, particularly drawing on the crime situation.
South Africa is set to battle it out against Sierra Leone, Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria in the group stages to see who qualifies for the world cup.
South Africa, as the host country automatically qualifies for the event, but participated in the draw as it doubles up as the draw for the African Cup of Nations.
Africa's 48 participating teams were divided into four groups of 12 that play in a league system on a home and away basis narrowing the countries down with only the five best African teams going through to the world cup.
Chairman of South Africa's Local Organising Committee (LOC) Dr Irvin Khoza announced the slogan for the world cup. "The slogan for the first FIFA World Cup on the African continent should be 'Ke Nako. Celebrate Africa's Humanity."
He said given the fact that the country has been given the opportunity to stage the world cup, "it was appropriate that we develop a message, a theme that would resonate with the objectives of the global football family as well as the intentions and ambitions of the African Diaspora.
Volunteer and sport fanatic Ayesha Omar, 22, told BuaNews she decided to be a volunteer because she wanted to play her part in making the event a success.
Ms Omar said that moral and enthusiasm among the volunteer support staff was high and that there was a great feeling of national pride.
"We as volunteers realise how important it is to get the country behind such an event to ensure South Africa hosts a successful world cup.
Ms Omar, who is completing her masters in political philosophy at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, believes playing against Nigeria will serve as good training for Bafana Bafana, adding that they will be a tough competitor.
"The success of the event was by and large due to the countless unnamed, unheard proud citizens of South Africa," she said.
Excitement has been building in South Africa over the last few weeks with the Soweto Derby, the announcement of the official world cup poster and the ticket prices being some of the numerous events which have taken place.
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The dazzling showpiece on Sunday night, saw local artist take centre stage in a myriad of music, colour. The line-up including the voice and spirit of the world-famous Lion King musical, Freshly Ground, the Soweto String Quartet, and jazz diva Judith Sephuma.
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