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South African soccer chief worried about World Cup

Reuters

Latest comment posted at 11:15 PM EDT 20/05/08

Raymond Hack says attacks on foreigners may hurt the country's bid to host a successful 2010 tourney ...Read the full article

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  1. Michael Wiseman from Canada writes: It's plain barbaric to see the xenophobic rage South African have lowered themselves to in the beating and killing of refugee seeking Zimbabweans.

    However, what's surprising is, not long ago during Apartheid in their own country, the same South Africans sought refugee status in neighboring countries but mainly in Zimbabwe.

    A soccer boycott is now a definite for me.

    On one hand we have the South Africa president who seem to be tone deaf towards the Zimbabwean crisis where a dictator has been in power nearly 28 years and counting. Now when Zimbabwean refugees come pouring in, he lacks even the moral decency to protect them in his own backyard.
  2. Richard Daystrom from Toronto, Canada writes: I'm sure it's not too late to move the World Cup to some other soccer-mad country like England, Spain or Argentina.
  3. Random Person from Heard and Mc Donald Islands writes: Why was this given to them anyway?...Really bad politics...
  4. John Smith from Canada writes: U.S. here we come. (That's FIFA's backup plan)
  5. A A from Canada writes: Interesting quote: "You know attacks like this...are very sad for football, are very sad for the country,"

    Mentions soccer first then his country. I may be analyzing this way too much but .......
  6. bj sutherland from Victoria, Canada writes: Michael Wiseman makes good points about Mbeki's leadership on a host of issues. This country is devastated by the effects of AIDS/HIV and need to use their money to improve health and social conditions for its poor citizens. A world soccer event it its costs should be something the country can contemplate when some of the other problems are more in hand. Someone above mentioned boycott of the World Cup soccer competition in South Africa and that's not a bad idea given that Mbeki is as much of enabler of Mugabe as the Chinese leadership is of the Darfur regime and the Burma junta.
  7. chris ohenry from Toronto, Canada writes: It's a shame that South Africa is not immune to the kind of primitive tribal violence that plagues so much of the African continent.
    The police/army obviously have the means and capability to crack down on this...but mostly likely fear images reminiscent of the apartheid days. Let's see how well Mbeke and his corrupt colleagues can restore law and order...
    If not, let's hope it goes back to Germany who had the best world cup ever in 2006.
  8. Martyn Whitt from Canada writes: The Positive Caveat: An encounter with an opposing mob armed with machetes, tyres and petrol might make the Euro yobs and hooligans think twice about causing troubles.
  9. Young Gunner from BMO Field, Canada writes: Very sad situation, far more relevant than ANY future sporting event(s). This was to be Sepp Blatter's legacy I believe, the WC in South Africa. But this was doomed to fail from the start! I don't think any country in Africa is ready to host a world tournament of this magnitude. No offence, but I don't know of any real infrastructure (transportation, security, etc) in place anywhere there. And to expect them to create new public transportation and road infrastructure, and now with the added threat of terrorism, and the security that goes into following that, that's a huge burden to place on 2nd and 3rd world countries. If it fails, I hope it's on financial losses, and not human casualties. Sepp Blatter could have a lot of blood on his hands instead of gold.
  10. chris ohenry from Toronto, Canada writes: Young Gunner, have you ever been to South Africa? It's definitely NOT 3rd world, and barely 2nd world. Road infrastructure is good (better quality roads there than Canada, that's for sure!), lots of local and cheap airlines to fly between the cities, and also a rail system (though in such a big country, makes not as much sense as flying).
    Sure, it has poverty and it has crime in certain areas. But in cities like Capetown, you're more likely to get run over by a Benz convertible than you are mugged by a criminal.
    Problem is they have little sports infrastructure, which they are frantically building now. Whether or not everything will be ready in time, is another question. But they are getting a ton of help from Uefa and particularly the Germans to help get it ready.
    It's just a question of whether a largely black government can be tough against a black mob. Or whether they are too busy counting the cash in their pockets rather than doing the job they were elected to do.
    South Africa is not like the rest of Africa. But it still has the potential for racial, tribal violence that is shared by the rest of Africa...right now, with food prices skyrocketing and energy prices through the roof, not much is needed to trigger it off.
    Zimbabwe is the problem. Not South Africa. But that's SA's fault too.
  11. BadaBing BadaBoom from Milan, Italy writes: bj sutherland from Victoria has it right. For a country that is heavily in debt and suffering from one of the worst AIDS crisis ever, the monies being spent to build all the sporting infrastructures is a real sham ! Lets face it, they will NOT recoup the monies spent to host the 2010 World Cup. Only a handful of World Cups have netted profit for their host cities, just like the Olympics.
  12. Dizzy D from Canada writes: Ha ha ha, best quote ever,
    'JOHANNESBURG — Deadly attacks on foreigners in South African townships may hurt the country's bid to host a successful 2010 soccer World Cup, the South African Football Association's (SAFA) chief executive said on Tuesday'.

    Reaaaaally? And only just 'hurt' the chances?
  13. Young Gunner from Canada writes: C O'Henry, I haven't bee to SA, but a friend has been to Capetown. Heard it's a bit like California...for scenery. Can you really say SA is a 1st World country? Does a 1st world country need uefa, fifa, the Germans to build stadiums for it, police it, and move people about in a timely manner? And the reason the roads may be better, is b/c they don't have the salt, slush and snow that ruin and chew up Canadian roads. It's hardly a thriving society there is it? Let's be real. I think they need to help their own people first before hosting the world. The fact that mobs of armed citizens are hunting down 'others' doesn't sound very civilized to me. What's happening there isn't good for anyone, which was the point I was trying to make.
  14. bj sutherland from Victoria, Canada writes: chris ohenry, what do you mean when you say SA is getting help from UEFA and Germany? Does that mean logistic help or financial help? I agree world sporting competitions should not always only take place in rich countries. So maybe there should be funds from the world-wide events funneled to places that are more needy and then they get to keep the infrastructure. I hope something positive will come out of this for the people of South Africa. Look at China, they have spent a lot to host this year's Olympics. Now with the fallout from the tragic consequences of the earthquake, will they have the money to help re-house people, feed them and make sure the crumbling dams will not cause further death and destruction?
  15. Random Person from Heard and Mc Donald Islands writes: The back up plan is Germany or England who can organize a WC in 3 months...
  16. Paul I from Rochester NY, United States writes: "it's sad for football and sad for the country" To hell with the folks hacked and burnt to death. Bad for the image. Just a slight touch of the old colonialism, eh?
  17. James C from Shenzhen, China writes: "chris ohenry from Toronto, Canada writes: Young Gunner, have you ever been to South Africa? It's definitely NOT 3rd world, and barely 2nd world."

    _________

    you need a history lesson. the second world was the communist bloc controlled by the soviets. it no longer exists. south africa is third world, and has no business preparing for the world cup given the mess the country is in. giving the tournament to this country was purely a political decision. and a bad one at that.
  18. James C from Shenzhen, China writes: the terms first world, second world, third world are more or less obsolete these days. its more correct to say developed, developing, and least developed countries.

    theres more to "developed country' status than just having good roads / decent transportation network. there's the economy, social system, poverty level, public health situation, crime, education, politics etc...... south africa would get a failing grade on enough of these.
  19. Young Gunner from Canada writes: Yes, those terms are more old school.
  20. Random Person from Heard and Mc Donald Islands writes: South Africa is becoming another nightmare like Zimbabwe{former Rhodesia},in few years....

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