Zurich - In just 20 minutes, South Africa's chances of winning the right to host the 2010 World Cup took a dramatic turn for the better this morning.
In a significant development, The Star has reliably learnt that Concacaf head Jack Warner, from Trinidad and Tobago, promised Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki his region's "full support" in tomorrow's crucial Fifa executive vote to decide the 2010 World Cup hosts.
If Warner sticks to his word, this will put South Africa on 14 votes, one over the magical 13-mark that will give it the majority of the 24 Fifa executives.
This significant development came after Morocco last night stepped up its dirty tricks campaign against South Africa .
Senior Fifa sources told The Star the Moroccan camp had yesterday allegedly been circulating a letter to Fifa executive members in which they listed the comparative strengths of their bid against that of South Africa and also launched a calculated personal attack against SA 2010 bid chairman Irvin Khoza. But this morning's meeting seems to be an indication their efforts have backfired.
Before the meeting, South Africa was confident of only 11 votes.
Morocco is expected to get only 9 votes. One vote is still undecided.
Then President Mbeki arrived at the Dolder Grand hotel with former president FW de Klerk at 7.30am, followed closely by Mandela.
Warner and American Chuck Blazer, the Trinidadian's fellow Concacaf member, surprisingly arrived at the South Africans' hotel minutes later and were whisked upstairs to meet Mandela and Mbeki.
The three votes of the Concacaf region, Costa Rica's Issac Sasso Sasso being the other, are crucial. South Africa were already confident of the three South American votes on the Fifa executive, that of Africa's Ismail Bhamjee and Oceania's Ahingalu Fusimalohi, at least five in Europe and another from Asia. Concacaf's three votes would give South Africa the edge.
Approached for comment as he left the hotel after seeing Mbeki and Mandela, Warner played down the meeting. "It's an historical occasion for me. In some ways, it will decide the future of one country. Unfortunately, Concacaf is still undecided," Warner said. He did say, though, that his meeting with Mandela and Mbeki had been a "very good" one.
Irvin Khoza, SA 2010 bid chairman, acknowledged that Concacaf's support would be a big "boost" to South Africa's World Cup chances.
"They (Warner and Blazer) met the president in South Africa during the inauguration and Mr Mandela also went to Trinidad to meet them. They are now renewing that relationship. It's positive.
"They have been our friends in the 2006 bid and we are hoping they will stay that way. If we get them sticking to their friendship vote, it will certainly boost our chances," said Khoza.
Ces Sud Africain ont vraiment pete les plombs. Ils veulent cette coupe du monde coute que coute! Lisez cet article du journal "The Star" de l´Afrique du Sud:
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A vote for SA is a vote against terror May 14, 2004
By Jovial Rantao
Fifa executives who will vote on who should win the right to host the best sporting show on Earth have two options: vote for the country with the capacity to stage a successful World Cup, a country that will help grow the sport of football, or vote for al-Qaeda, the terrorist network that has the world in a tizz.
If some international political analysts are to be believed, the Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has a lot to thank al-Qaeda for, for assuming the highest office in his country.
The analysts have said that Jose Maria Aznar was destined to be retained as prime minister. That was until days before the election when bombs hit four trains in Madrid, sending residents of that country into a fit of anger, followed by mourning of those who perished in the blasts.
Nearly 200 people died and more than 1 800 were injured in the blasts which Aznar blamed on separatist group ETA. It was his handling of the attacks which is believed to have led to his demise. Spanish authorities have successfully linked the blasts to al-Qaeda, an international terror group that gives powerful politicians - starting with US President George Bush - sleepless nights. Al-Qaeda of course is led by a middle-aged rich man, with a long beard and a penchant for caves, mountains, guns and explosives.
It is this man the analysts say catapulted Zapatero from an opposition politician into the prime ministership. True to his form, no sooner had Zapatero taken over than he announced that he would recall the Spanish troops from the war in Iraq.
That, I'm sure, had nothing to do with an announcement, purportedly from Osama bin Laden, which castigated the presence of foreign troops in Iraq and threatened terror against countries which had deployed their troops in support of the United States and Britain.
So let's say that the analysts are right and that Bin Laden and his al-Qaeda won their first election and played a huge hand in the election of Zapatero. If we accept this, then Zapatero's comments that Spain would support Morocco in its bid to host soccer's 2010 World Cup should be good news to us.
It should be good news because one of the many issues that Fifa - football's world governing body - looks at when awarding the World Cup to countries is security.
There is no doubt that Morocco and the entire North African region is a high-security risk. For instance, 11 of the 15 suspects arrested for the Madrid bombings are from Morocco.
Among those who blew themselves up after being cornered by Spanish authorities were a number from North Africa. So the region is a breeding ground for terrorists who are wreaking havoc on the African continent, in Europe and other countries. What would stop them from using the spectacular occasion that is the 2010 World Cup to make a statement in the way only they know how?
If al-Qaeda wanted to make a point against the West - as if they haven't made several in loud and bloody manner - an event that draws world leaders and attracts millions of television viewers from around the globe would be the perfect one.
Authorities in Spain are seeking up to 20 illegal immigrants who fled Morocco after 45 people, including 12 suicide bombers, were killed in the attacks last May.
It is not only Morocco. Its neighbours Algeria and Egypt, home of the Islamic Brotherhood, also pose a major security threat. There have been numerous terrorist activities in these countries, enough to make the region a high security risk.
The World Cup is Fifa's most valued asset. Therefore it is in Fifa's best interests that the World Cup 2010 should be staged in a secure environment, one that blends well with the sport that football is.
South Africa is the perfect venue. Not only is our country politically and economically stable, but we can say the same about the southern African region as well.
The second point is that as Fifa agreed to award the 2010 bid to an African country, they don't come more African than us.
The third point is that, from a technical aspect, South Africa has scored quite high. We have world-class stadia and do not need to build any in the run-up to the World Cup.
The deals have been done and the winners of the right to host the 2010 bid will be announced in 24 hours. Fifa executives have an opportunity to present the bid to the African continent and not to a group of terrorists, which is what a vote for Morocco constitutes.
A vote for South Africa will be a vote for football. It will be a vote of thanks to the many African players who, through nothing but their God-given skills, have made European and other leagues a success and have become ambassadors for the sport.
A vote for us will be a small but timely gift for our nascent democracy, which turns 10 this year. It will be a gift to Mandela and the African people.
C' est plutot l' Afrique qui utilise "Dirty Tricks" pour avoir cette coupe du Monde a tout prix. Je sais tres bien que les dirigeants Sud Africains n' aiment pas le Maroc, c' est une longue histoire.
Les dirigeants Sud Africains sont arrogants, a l' exception de Mandela que je respecte et j' admire.
Kangarou: Peut etre que les Sud Africains n´aiment pas trop le Maroc, mais arriver a ecrire un article dans un journal repute dans leur pays avec l´intitule "A vote for SA is a vote against terror " me parait exagere...
Qui sait c'est peut être eux qui sont derière les attentats de Casablanca... Le Maroc a tjs été et sera une terre paisible pour toutes les religion.... Contrairement au SA le pays où on est d'abord une "Couleur" où le racisme faisait et fiat ravage... Un pays où on risque rien qu'on respirant choper le SIDA, en SA c'est plutôt l'Anti SIDA et l'Anti Racisme World Cup qu'il faut organiser labà...
chargement...
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