Blatter Urges South African Football Chiefs to Deliver on Promises; Soccerex Opens

(WFI) FIFA president Sepp Blatter says the South African Football Association has a great responsibility to deliver a memorable World Cup.

In Johannesburg for Soccerex, Blatter met with members of the South African Football Association’s (SAFA) Executive Committee on Sunday before today’s conference kicked off. He spoke with new SAFA president Kirsten Nematandani who was elected in September.

"The SAFA should be proud: it is one of the few associations to have the privilege of organizing a World Cup, which is nothing less than the most important sporting event in the world,” Blatter told SAFA.

“But it’s not just a privilege: it’s also an enormous task and a great responsibility.”

Blatter praised SAFA for its role in preparations for the 2010 tournament. “I wish to congratulate you for the high standard of organization up until now and particularly at the Confederations Cup,” he said.

“You have to continue assuming your responsibilities and working hand-in-hand with the organizing committee for the FIFA World Cup.”

Nematandani said he “can hardly wait for this World Cup”. The tournament opens in just 192 days.

“What matters above all else is development, because without development we cannot grow. The ‘Win in Africa with Africa’ program, especially, has brought much to Africa,” he said.

This morning, Blatter met with Soccerex president Duncan Revie before giving a keynote address to the conference. Afterwards, Danny Jordaan, CEO of the World Cup organizing committee, will update delegates on the progress of preparations for the first ever FIFA World Cup on African soil.

Blatter travels to Cape Town to lead an extraordinary meeting of the FIFA Executive Committee on Dec. 2. The meeting is scheduled to discuss incidents and issues at the World Cup play-offs, match control (refereeing) and irregularities in the football betting market.

The introduction of video technology in FIFA tournaments may come under discussion following the Thierry Henry handball incident that helped France beat Ireland to advance to the World Cup finals.

Blatter also chairs a scheduled meeting of his executive committee on Robben Island on Dec. 3.

The executive will receive reports about the 2009 FIFA competitions –U-20 World Cup Egypt 2009, U-17 World Cup Nigeria, Beach Soccer World Cup Dubai – and updates on upcoming tournaments, including the FIFA Club World Cup UAE and the FIFA World Player Gala.

But the main talking point will be the draw for the 2010 World Cup, which takes place in Cape Town on Friday.

Written by Mark Bisson (mark@worldfootballinsider.com)

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