Stage is set for 2010 preliminary draw

The announcement was made yesterday, Wednesday 14 November 2007, by Local Organising Committee (LOC) CEO Danny Jordan, during a media briefing held at SAFA House in Johannesburg.

“This event is our first official entrance to the 2010 FIFA World Cup and it has generated huge media attention worldwide,” Jordan told journalists.

“This is an event of African excellence and a celebration of African football with beach parties, lot of fun but also plenty of hard work.

“So, we need your engagement and support and I am sure the way you will communicate to the public will definitely make it the best event ever.”

World Cup record

The ceremony, which will feature the draw to determine the pairings and groups, is expected to be attended by more than 300 journalists, close to 30 000 guests and broadcast live in 170 countries worldwide – a World Cup record.

“I must warn you, there are no more rooms in Durban. If you are not in Durban, then you are not in SA and it means you do not have friends in the LOC or FIFA,” Jordan joked.

The draw will be conducted by FIFA secretary-general Jerome Valcke, with the help of soccer legends Abedi Pele (Ghana), Jomo Sono, Kaizer Motaung, Lucas Radebe, George Weah (Liberia), Marcel Desailly (France), Ali Daei (Iran) and Kasey Keller (US).

Artists who will perform at the ceremony include Youssou N'dour (Senegal), Natal Philharmonic Orchestra, The Afrotenors, Mogana Dancers (Botswana), Judith Sephuma and Freshlyground, said Leslie Sedibe, responsible for the event's entertainment.

Strike

But, despite this preliminary draw's euphoria, the building of soccer venues has suffered a major setback, as more than 1000 workers at the Moses Mabhida Stadium's construction site in Durban downed tools last week to protest against what they call ‘slave wages', ‘exploitation' and unsafe working conditions.

And now that the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has joined the chorus, threatening to organise a nationwide strike – including Gautrain – there are fears that the 2009 deadline might not be met.

Workers want a monthly bonus of R1500 and the presence of safety officers on all the construction sites. Employers reject these demands, calling them ‘unreasonable'.

Asked to comment on the ongoing strike, Jordan put on a brave face, saying: “We are not concerned about that as it does not represent a real threat to the 2010 preparations.

“However, while we understand that people have the right to exercise their democratic right, we want to remind all parties that the World Cup is a national project for everyone's best interest and we urge them to resolve their dispute as soon as possible.”

But NUM spokesperson Lesiba Seshoka said workers will not budge until their demands are met. “We are going ahead [with the strike]. Some people in comfortable positions tell workers to act in the national interest.

“We are part of the nation and we need a share of the cake,” Seshoka was quoted by the Sowetan as saying.