22 - 28 March 2001
Issue No.526
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Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 22 - 28 March 2001 Issue No.526 |
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 | Current issue | Previous issue | Site map | ||
It's Africa's turn
FIFA appears to have decided that the 2010 World Cup will be held in Africa. It's official -- we think.
The proviso is added because it is still not quite clear if such a decision has indeed been taken. Despite a report on FIFA's Web site that the 2010 finals will be held in Africa, there is still some confusion whether it would definitely be awarded to the continent.
FIFA's Web site said last Thursday that Africa would host the World Cup in 2010, the year when FIFA's policy of rotating the tournament is due to begin. However, FIFA President Sepp Blatter insists the rotation system has yet to be confirmed, adding that once the format becomes official Africa will have the first crack at the championship. Some FIFA members at an executive committee meeting in Zurich last week echoed Blatter's statements.
For the sake of argument -- and Africa -- let's suppose the Web site story is true. It would be a great day for Africa for it has the dubious distinction of being the only continent never to host the game's showpiece event. The continent has been bidding for the World Cup the last four times, i.e. 15 years. Morocco lost out in the first round of a ballot last year to decide who would host the 2006 finals. Germany was eventually chosen narrowly ahead of South Africa. That was a controversial vote. The New Zealand delegate, who was directed by his government to cast his ballot for South Africa, inexplicably abstained, paving the way for the German win.
Africa should put that shock incident behind it if the Web site story holds up. The champagne flowed throughout the continent following last week's news. The general feeling across Africa was summed up by Botswana's Ismail Bhamjee, a FIFA executive committee member. "At last people recognise that it should be Africa," Bhamjee said. "It will be a fantastic boost for African football and disproves those who said this would never become reality and that FIFA would never award us the finals."
Danny Jordaan, chief executive of the South African Football Association, said his country could fulfil all of FIFA's requirements for staging the finals. Morocco believes it would be fourth time lucky for her, especially since this time around it will face competition for the venue only from the continent. Tunisia supports a joint bid if that was the only way to meet FIFA's criteria of producing a viable bid. But FIFA officials have hinted that next year's joint World Cup in South Korea and Japan would be the last.
Any talk about an African World Cup should involve Egypt. Some officials remain cautiously optimistic about the possibilities of Egypt winning the bid. Some, like Egyptian football president Dhashoury Harb, are throwing caution to the wind. Egypt could succeed in becoming the first African nation to host the tournament, Harb said. "Its prestige in Africa and its potential make it the best bidder."
Egypt does have experience in hosting big-time soccer shows. Witness the 1986 African Nations Cup and the 1997 Under-17 World Cup. Money should be no object; FIFA gives $200 million to the nation that organises the event. Logistics might prove to be Egypt's Achilles heel even though organising a World Cup is a walk in the park compared to the complexity of hosting an Olympics.
The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) needs the government's green light -- and fast -- if it wants to bid; hopefully it will get it. The EFA and the Ministry of Youth should also liaise, starting now.
If we don't move quickly we will be forced to wait more than 20 years until Africa's turn comes round again. The thought should be incentive enough to get the ball rolling.
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