African Talking Point: The 2010 African Qualifiers

From Goal.com

In this edition of African Talking Point, we look at the qualifiers for the 2010 African Nations Cup and World Cup finals and welcome your valuable comments.

South Africa will host the first World Cup to be staged on African soil in 2010. Yet still, they will participate in the qualifying rounds.

What if they cannot make it through the qualifying rounds? They will still qualify for the World Cup as hosts.

Their participation in the qualifiers is mainly to secure qualification for the 2010 African Nations Cup in Angola, the Confederation of African Football (Caf) announced.

Caf also used the used the 2006 World Cup qualifiers to determine the sixteen teams that participated in the African Nations Cup in Egypt last year.

The qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup from the African Zone will be combined with the preliminaries for the 2010 African Nations Cup.

[Read more]

Will the PSL broadcast deal affect 2010 FIFA World Cup viewership?

From Biz Community

At present, over half (55%) of South Africans say that they would not subscribe to a pay channel in order to be able to view the 2010 FIFA World Cup matches, if SuperSport is awarded broadcast rights to the games, reveals a recent dipstick by African Response.

These findings stem from a short interview conducted with 399 respondents, in response to the PSL (Premier Soccer League) having recently awarded broadcasting rights to SuperSport, worth more than R1 billion. Giving the pay channel exclusive TV rights to all PSL fixtures will mean that SABC 1, SABC 2, SABC 3 and e.tv will be prohibited from broadcasting any PSL soccer matches.

The deal, which will hold for the next five years, was recently announced by the PSL chairperson Irvin Khoza. Regardless of the fact that the case is still in arbitration, the PSL says that its decision to award the broadcast rights for all soccer matches to SuperSport, is definite. If the deal holds for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, only 22% of respondents say that they are willing to subscribe to the pay channel, which could leave the remaining, average South African soccer fan, unable to view the 2010 FIFA World Cup matches.

The latest 2010 barometer results reflect that overall public confidence in South Africa's readiness to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup stands at 76%.

The results contained in this press release, represent the views of 399 respondents interviewed in July this year. The full African Response Barometer is released on a quarterly basis. Previous reports can be found at www.africanresponse.co.za.

[Read more]

S African organizers confident on 2010 World Cup preparation

From China View

JOHANNESBURG, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- South African organizers for the first soccer World Cup in Africa on Wednesday reiterated their confidence that the country can deliver a successful tournament while beating pessimism on the African continent.

Much preparatory work had been done and many others are well on the track for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Danny Jordaan, chief executive of the tournament's Local Organizing Committee (LOC), said in Johannesburg on Wednesday, citing the finalized match schedule, sold broadcast rights, established website and new stadiums under construction.

Jordaan said the preliminary draw, the first official event as run-up to the 2010 World Cup, will be held in Durban on November 25, with the highest number of countries ever had entered for the event.

"If it's not going to happen, why would 204 countries want to participate and win one of the 32 places?" he told a 2010 National Communications Partnership Conference.

A total of 197 teams had entered the preliminary draw to decide qualifying groups that eventually produced 32 teams for the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

South Africa and FIFA, the world soccer governing body, have repeatedly fended off suspicions over the country's ability to host a World Cup, particularly rumors that South Africa could be replaced by other countries as the host.

Jordaan said much work had already been completed. Nine host cities had been confirmed, stadium contracts had been signed, legislation had been finalized, match schedules completed, all senior managers appointed and 95 percent of the broadcast rights had been sold.

[Read more]

Africa: 2010 TV, Radio to Give Continent Unprecedented Audience

From All Africa

The huge number of spectators set to experience the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa on television and radio, will give Africa unprecedented audience.

"If only 50 percent of the 6.2 billion world population watches the television and listens to the radio and commentaries, then no amount of investment in advertising, marketing and sales can capture the magnitude of such [an] audience for Africa," said Ben Egbuna, President of the African Union of Broadcasting and Director-General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria.

Addressing the second National Communication Partnership Conference on Wednesday, Mr Egbuna said the African media has a duty to use 2010 as an opportunity to counter the wrong perceptions and highlight positive images and values about Africa.
The conference brings together marketers, communicators and other interested stakeholders across Africa to discuss ways of seizing communication opportunities during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

"For during and after the event, we must show our visitors that Africa is a beautiful continent with friendly, hospitable and industrious people. We must deliver services, display attitudes that will earn our continent a good reputation and ensure the present benefits and guarantee future profit."

Mr Egbuna said the 2010 FIFA World Cup much more effort was required to meet the standards set by previous hosts.

"Many of our critics, those who believe that nothing good comes from Africa and that Africa is incapable of doing anything right, are looking forward to a flawed and mediocre organisation of the tournament," he said.
[Read more]

World Cup awaits Bates

From Sacbee


Mykell Bates left Roseville an awkward freshman, full of potential but still very much a kid.

For two years, he sweated and studied in Florida, 3,000 miles away from home. Vying against dozens of other talented teens from throughout the nation, he lived and breathed soccer 24 hours a day.

"It's hard," Bates said during a rare, brief visit home. "Everybody wants to be with their family. But these two years have helped a lot. They've prepared me mentally for what's to come."

This week in South Korea, the 17-year-old will lead the junior version of Team USA onto the global stage with high expectations -- not just for this month but for a decade to come.

A 5-foot-9 defender, Bates is the captain of the Under-17 national team, a favorite in the FIFA U-17 World Cup. Featuring 24 nations, the World Cup opens Saturday with the final set for Sept. 9.

With some matches also on its sister stations, ESPNU will broadcast all 52 games live, with most airing late at night. South Korea is 16 hours ahead of Sacramento.

One of six top seeds, the United States starts group play Monday against Tajikistan before facing Tunisia on Aug. 23 and Belgium on Aug. 26.

"Our goal, first and foremost, is to take it one game at a time," coach John Hackworth said. "The strength of our team is we have talented guys and we have depth. ... That's definitely a huge factor in World Cup."
To prepare for this trip, the national squad visited South Korea two months ago.

"It was hot and humid," Bates said, "and that was early in the summer. It will probably be even hotter and more humid. People were very nice. ... Almost everyone speaks English; they study it in school. They treated us like we were superstars."

[Read more]

Cape sex workers' industry 'gearing up'

From IOL

Cape Town is rapidly becoming known as a top destination for child sex tourism, and the 2010 World Cup is expected to encourage even more sex tourists to visit the city.Already more than 25 percent of street children in Cape Town are involved in sex work, according to the child protection network End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes (Ecpat).

Jennifer Seif, executive director of the non-profit organisation Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa (FTTSA), said on Tuesday there was "very little debate, if any" on the social impact of 2010.

'Tourism provides the framework for child sex tourism'She said literature suggested that a mega event, such as a sporting World Cup, would attract mostly single and male visitors who could be willing to engage in sexual activities with children.

[Read more]