Monday, 22 October 2007

Major World Cup tenders rejected

The city of Cape Town has rejected three tender bids by prospective operators for its
68 000-seater World Cup stadium in Greenpoint. ‘The bid evaluation committee came to the conclusion that none of the bids meet the city's require-ments and recommends that the bid not be awarded and be re-advertised,’ the city said in a statement. The tender is for the operation of the stadium and a multi-purpose 90-hectare theme park on the site. Among the heavyweights who had submitted tenders was Investec Bank which provided the city with R185m in bridging finance to assist with the construction of the R2.5 billion stadium which will host a 2010 semi-final. The consortium includes Venfin Media Investments, Western Province Rugby Union and the SAIL group.

Should you be part of any of the 2010 world cup functions and require 2010 gifts visit www.belleregalo.co.za for 2010 gifting ideas or visit our blog: http://2010gifts.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, 16 October 2007

Fifa heavy weights monitor progress

The Board of Directors of the 2010 Organising Committee South Africa which met in Johannesburg yesterday, have once again expressed confidence in the country’s World Cup preparations, saying the past month has been ‘particularly good’.

Fifa General Secretary Jerome Valcke who attended the meeting, said that ‘as always’ stadium construction was an important issue which is being closely monitored, but stressed: ‘We at Fifa are confident that we are on track and that we are going the right way.’ The committee’s operational budget for the next financial year was approved at the meeting. There were also discussions on the official 2010 Fifa World Cup poster, which will be unveiled during the Preliminary Draw in Durban on November 25.

Should you be part of any of the 2010 functions and require 2010 gifts visit www.belleregalo.co.za for 2010 gifting ideas.

Sunday, 14 October 2007

Local companies get UK platform

SA will be sending an entire delegation of the country’s top businesses to London in the new year for a major trade and industry exhibition which will showcase various 2010 World Cup projects. The Big Business Expo is supported by the Department of Trade and Industry. With the World Cup just 32 months away, the expo will market SA at a critical time, exposing potential visitors to the possibilities that exist in order to stimulate an influx of investors both in the private and public sectors. ‘Both tourism and 2010 have truly positioned South Africa on the global map. We continue to grow from strength to strength, paving the way for big and small companies to do big business in foreign markets. All they need is the platform,’ said organiser Sue Gannon.

2010 This week

15 – 17: 2007 AMEU Convention. The convention theme is ‘Phezu Komkhono’ (Get on with it) and South Africa’s 2010 World Cup preparations will be one the issues under discussion (Durban)

15: 2010 World Cup issues expected to be addressed when President Thabo Mbeki hosts high-level delegation from Brazil (Presidential Guesthouse - Pretoria)

15: South Africa vs Italy - international friendly (Siena)

17 – 20: Botswana’s 2010 World Cup preparations under the spotlight at Global Expo to attract foreign direct investment and promote joint venture opportunities between citizens and foreign investors (Gaborone)

17: Local Organising Committee CEO Danny Jordaan to address Ghanaian and African sports media practitioners on SA’s 2010 preparations (Accra)

19: Draw for the 2008 MTN Nations Cup finals. The 16 qualifiers will be drawn into four groups of four for the tournament, which runs from January 20 to February 10.

Sunday, 07 October 2007

Fifa delegation to inspect WC stadia

A Fifa inspection tour of four 2010 host cities kicks off on Monday and the Local Organising Committee says it is confident the delegation will find the project ‘well on track’.

The team is composed of experts in competitions, marketing, IT, media, accommodation, security, stadium construction and transportation.

The tour starts at Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg and will continue to Cape Town and Nelson Mandela Bay the following day. It will culminate in a visit to Durban on Wednesday where the delegation will visit the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Convention Centre, the location of the Preliminary Draw on November 25 which will mark the global kick-off of the journey to the 2010 World Cup.

2010 This week

8: Media accreditation deadline for the 2010 preliminary draw. The process is being conducted exclusively online (www.fifa.com)

8 - 10: Fifa delegation tours four of the nine host cities to look at the stadium building progress and to get an update on the preparations for the 2010 World Cup Preliminary Draw in Durban on November 25.

9: Technology and Design - Changing the Face of South Africa: 2010 and Beyond. Address by Clem Sunter, world renowned strategist and best selling author (Sandton)

11 – 14: Zimbabwe International Travel Expo which will showcase 2010 World Cup preparations.

12: World Cup scenarios addressed when the African Institute of SA holds a seminar on ‘The Solution to Zimbabwe Crisis: A Civil Society Dialogue’ (Pretoria)

12: Launch of the Mata Mata Tourist Access Facility between and Namibia within the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. This access facility will see the region benefiting from the 2010 Fifa World Cup by showcasing its unique eco-tourism products.

13 - 14: 2007 FNB-sponsored Homecoming Revolution event which will highlight SA's 2010 World Cup preparations (London).

13: First African 2010 qualifying matches: Seychelles v Djibouti; Sierra Leone v Guinea-Bissau; Central African Republic v Sao Tome and Principe; Somalia v Swaziland and Madagascar v Comoros.

14: Fifa will inspect the Mandela National Stadium in Namboole for the second time to ascertain the stadium’s readiness 2010 qualifiers.

Tuesday, 02 October 2007

Sponsors help swell Safa’s coffers

01 October 2007 – The Sowetan
Ramatsiyi Moholoa

Soft-drink giant Coca-Cola and supermarket chain Pick ’n Pay have come on board as sponsors of the South African Football Association.
This was announced by Safa president Molefi Oliphant at their annual general meeting in Kempton Park on Saturday.

The two major companies will each contribute a total of R20 million to the coffers of the soccer federation over five years.

“They are the suppliers to the national teams and Safa,” said Oliphant, whose body has reduced its financial deficit from R98 million to R44 million.
“We are naturally delighted that the two companies will be assisting us in the next five years. It’s good for the development of football in our country.”

Oliphant also confirmed that the AGM resolved to close down SA Football Pty Ltd, the commercial wing of Safa, as per the new tax laws of the country.

SA Football Pty Ltd – which was led by deputy president Mwelo Nonkonyana – will wind up its affairs and furnish Safa with a closing report within 90 days.
The commercial wing’s staff members will be absorbed by Safa.
The proposed new legislation gives South African sports federations until December 2009 to close their commercial wings.

All federations are now by law required to have only one structure. In this case all the activities relating to amateur soccer will be run by Safa.
“For us the announcement (legislation) came at the right time. We felt there was no need to go any further with the activities of the commercial wing,” said Oliphant.
The Lekoa soccer leader-cum-businessman said issues relating to the constitution of Safa will be discussed at a special general meeting on December 1.
“We will discuss things like amending the Safa constitution in line with those of Fifa and CAF statues. There will also be a presentation of the latest (developments) relating to the 2010 World Cup preparations.”

On the formal request by Safa Soweto to be awarded regional status, Oliphant said there was a task team dealing with the matter. But he was quick to point out that the task team was looking into all the metros, Johannesburg included.
“We are not only looking into the issue raised by people from Soweto. The task team will give us a report on December 1.”

Meanwhile, Safa has appointed veteran soccer administrators Leepile Taunyane and Vincent Baartjies as honorary life members.
Safa is also planning to organise more competitions for junior soccer