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Zimbabwe turmoil adds to SA World Cup woes
Political turmoil in neighbouring Zimbabwe was adding to a long list of
problems South Africa faced in its preparation for the 2010 World Cup
finals, FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke said today.
"The situation in Zimbabwe has to be solved quickly. What is happening
there is definitely terrible," Valcke told a media briefing in Johannesburg
today. "It would have been nice for South Africa with all the other
challenges they are facing not to have the problem of Zimbabwe on top
of it all."
Valcke said FIFA backed various international initiatives to resolve the
political impasse following the contested elections that returned president
Robert Mugabe to power last month. "We add our voice to concerns
and we fully support what is being done by all international organisations."
But Valcke said he was unsure what the effect of possible international
sanctions might be on Zimbabwe's national team, who are involved in 2010
World Cup qualifiers. "Their national association has done nothing
wrong. This would be something we would have to discuss with the United
Nations. We do have links with some international bodies but for the time
being I can tell you we have made no decision on Zimbabwe."
Long list of challenges
Valcke said the list of organisational challenges in South Africa for
the 2010 tournament, which kicks off in 700 days from tomorrow, remained
long. Yesterday, organisers decided to drop Port Elizabeth as one of the
venues for the Confederations Cup, an eight-team test event to be played
next June.
The city had promised to complete their new Nelson Mandela Bay stadium
by March but the South Africa 2010 World Cup Organising Committee said
this was unlikely. "It is a challenge to deliver a brand new stadium
and if our main goal is to succeed in 2010 then it was a good idea to
remove it from the 2009 tournament," Valcke said.
"We would rather drop them from the list than have to play in an
uncompleted stadium. It is not the image we want to send out before 2010".
Valcke said he was considering increasing the frequency of his trips to
the country from two monthly to monthly to help ensure South Africa would
be ready.
Asked about his biggest challenge in the next 700 days, Valcke said: "I
have a long list of things to do on my desk and all must be done in the
end. We have to focus on everything. Nothing is ready yet but all has
to be ready for 2010." - Reuters
sabcnews.com,
July 09, 2008
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