Half - time:
Do we want it?
By
Inas Mazhar
Is Egypt still keen on hosting the 2010 World Cup? Even though the tournament is the premier showpiece in football on the world stage, there are serious concerns about how serious we are in wanting to stage it.
Throughout last year, officials of the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) spared no media outlet to announce that the country wanted the World Cup, was ready to host it and, in fact, was the favourite to win the bid.
So confident were we that we refused to consider a joint bid proposal from Libya, so certain were Egyptian officials that they could do it on their own.
But three months into 2003 and the bold talk has all but ceased. It has even come to light that the EFA and the Ministry of Youth do not yet have government approval to go ahead with a bid.
Not surprisingly, just as Egypt has put the matter aside, other nations have started to take it seriously. Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Libya and Morocco, which has been trying to land the World Cup since 1990, have all come forward with plans of their own intended to net football's biggest prize.
Last week, a South African delegation began a European tour to make its case. It travelled to Germany -- where the 2006 World Cup will be held -- France, England and Switzerland, the headquarters of FIFA, the world's governing body in the sport, for an audience with its President Sepp Blatter.
Before heading for Europe the delegation toured Africa, visiting even Cairo, to canvass for votes.
Egypt's chances of a World Cup were dented last month when Egyptian fans interrupted a game against Denmark in Cairo Stadium by throwing stones onto the pitch. Egypt lost the game 5-1 but the score was not an excuse for the behaviour of the spectators, especially since the encounter was a friendly. Naturally, the incident raised eyebrows concerning Egypt's ability to ensure the safety of the 32 participating teams.
Blatter had promised that the 2010 World Cup will be played in Africa; the only question is where on the continent will it be held. It will be Africa's first World Cup and because the tournament rotates from one continent to another, another one will not be hosted in this part of the world for many years after. Thus, this is an opportunity not to be missed and every effort should be made to have the event staged here. But apparently not all share the same opinion.
