FIFA Report - Blatter Visits South Africa, Mbeki

Blatter Affirms South Africa World Cup Preps

World football chief Sepp Blatter has again dismissed speculation that 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa may lose the event, amid lingering speculation it will not be ready.

Both FIFA and South Africa say only a natural catastrophe can stop the smorgasbord of football going ahead.

“Plan B is South Africa. Plan C is South Africa,” Blatter told journalists after meeting South African President Thabo Mbeki late Sunday.

“When I left the plane and arrived on African soil, I started dancing."

Blatter says he hopes the 2010 tournament will create an enduring legacy that benefits millions on the continent.

“The legacy is that at the end of the World Cup that also you are identified to be a safe and secure country and here the World Cup can help you 100 percent,” he says.

But there is already a list of concerns, including the availability of adequate public transport for spectators, participating delegations and its own officials and guests.

The government has set aside $1.7 billion to improve rail and road links in venue cities but it will find a tough task in matching the high-speed and efficient rail system carrying fans to and from the venue cities in Germany in 2006.

Organizers hope the costly Gautrain connecting Johannesburg's international airport with the city center will be ready in time, but there is no equivalent for Cape Town or Durban.

FIFA is reportedly working closely with South African organizers to buy and hire buses to transport fans, while the South African government is increasing efforts to persuade minibus taxi drivers, who provide a critical part of the transport system, to upgrade old dangerous vehicles.

Elections won’t affect World Cup: Mbeki

South African President Thabo Mbeki has reaffirmed his determination to meet FIFA commitments despite any change in administration.

“We will have elections next year and a new administration and there wouldn't be any change in policy or positions and so on,” Mbeki told reporters.

“It doesn't matter what happens here with regard to whatever the political challenges. This country will meet its commitments to FIFA.”

FIFA president Sepp Blatter had been scheduled to meet ruling ANC party leader Jacob Zuma, who is widely expected to succeed Mbeki after elections in 2009.

Also part of the visit schedule for Blatter were visits to three of the stadiums that will host matches for the World Cup and meet former Presidents Nelson Mandela and F.W. De Klerk, who participated in South Africa's bid to become the first African nation to stage the tournament.

Stage set for Chile 2008

The draw for the under-20 Women’s World Cup in Chile this year took place at a relaxed ceremony at the wine estate of Vina Cousino-Macul,.

Representatives of the 16 qualifiers for the tournament were in attendance, with the final makeup of the groups as follows:

Group A: Chile, England, New Zealand, Nigeria.

Group B: China PR, Argentina, France, USA.

Group C: Canada, Japan, Congo DR, Germany.

Group D: Mexico, Norway, Brazil, Korea DPR.

Chile coach Marta Tejedor says the draw went according to plan for her team, hoping to come up against New Zealand and her wish had come true. England and Nigeria were also drawn in the same group.

“We’re happy,” Tejedor says.

“At last we know who our rivals are. England and New Zealand are two teams we know well because we've played them before. We need to use the information we have on them and make sure we prepare properly. It's an interesting and exciting group and I'm hoping we can finish as high as possible.”

Last Saturday’s draw produced a virtual carbon copy of one of the groups at Russia 2006.

Rivals in Group D two years ago, France, Argentina and USA find themselves pitched together again, this time in Group B, with China PR rounding off the pool.

2011 Asian Cup draw amended

The Asian Football Confederation has amended the qualifying draw for the 2011 Asian Cup after India booked their place at the tournament by winning the Challenge Cup.

Two berths are reserved at the 2011 event in Qatar for the winners of the AFC Challenge Cup in 2008 and 2010 - a tournament featuring second-tier Asian nations.

India ensured their first appearance at the Asian Cup since 1984 by beating Tajikistan 4-1 in the Challenge Cup final last month.

The top two teams from each group make the finals. The groups are as follows:

Group A: Japan, Bahrain, Hong Kong, Yemen

Group B: Australia, Indonesia, Oman, Kuwait

Group C: Uzbekistan, UAE, Malaysia

Group D: Vietnam, China, Syria, Lebanon

Group E: Iran, Thailand, Jordan, Singapore

Ghanaian Goalkeeper in Coma

Soccer player Ibrahim Dossey is in critical condition at a Romanian hospital following a head-on collision in Bucharest Saturday morning. The 36-year-old star is believed to have been traveling with his wife and two children.

A member of Ghana’s 1992 Olympics bronze medal team, he has played in Romania since 2001.

Written by

Anthony Stavrinos

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(Copyright 1992 2008, all rights reserved. The information in this report may not be published, excerpted, or otherwise distributed in print or broadcast without the express prior consent of Around the Rings.)

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