FIFA World Cup 2010, South Africa Options

[molon_lave_2012]

Mexico should have been held to a draw by Trinidad and Tobago, it still shows the Mexicans are garbage team. Nery Castillo got hurt and was taken off in the 41st minute of play. He always gets hurt doesn't he?

[plato-ny]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8140433.stm

S Africa strike hits stadium work

Most of the construction workers earn the equivalent of $310 a month

South African construction workers demonstrate at the start of a nationwide strike demanding higher wages outside Soccer City Stadium in Soweto (top and left) and Green Point Stadium in Cape Town (right).

Some 70,000 construction workers in South Africa have gone on strike, halting work on stadiums being built for the 2010 World Cup.

Unions are threatening to wreck the tournament if their demands for a 13% wage increase are not met.

Organisers say they are confident the grounds will still be ready, unless the strike continues for months.

On Monday judges rejected a request from the employers to outlaw the strike, which unions say is indefinite.

The BBC's Mpho Lakaje in Soweto says scores of workers are outside Soccer City stadium wearing blue overalls and brandishing sticks.

"We are struggling for our country," they chanted after downing their tools at midday.

Soccer City union organiser Patrick Geqeza blamed management inflexibility for precipitating the strike.

"We feel bad about going on strike. [But] they don't want to meet us half way," he told AP news agency.

At present most of the workers are being paid 2,500 rand ($310; £192) a month.

Map of stadiums

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), whose members include construction workers, has rejected the 10% wage increase offer from employers.

"The government must help us, otherwise we are going to delay 2010. We will strike until 2011," AFP news agency quoted NUM spokesman Lesiba Seshoka as saying.

Protesters outside Durban's Moses Mabhida Stadium were forced to disperse because their application to protest was turned down, the South African Press Association reported.

Before they left, the NUM's Bhekani Ngcobo told workers the union would make sure that no temporary labourers were employed.

Six entirely new stadiums are being built for the World Cup, while four are being modernised.

Danny Jordaan, head of the World Cup organising committee, said he respected the right of the workers to strike but felt the dispute would be resolved without affecting the construction schedule.

"The construction workers have been the lifeblood of the 2010 Fifa World Cup project," he said in a statement.

"Their hard work has ensured that we are on track to meet our deadlines and that our stadiums will be among the best in the world next year."

Correspondents say if the strike continues projects such as the high-speed rail link between the airport and Johannesburg will be of greater concern than the stadiums.

The rail-link is scheduled to be operational just two weeks before the tournament starts.

The next World Cup will be the first to be hosted by an African country.

[Dikefale11]

F#ck...

[Fanatikos]

I could really careless... regardless we are going to have a World Cup in 2010
If South Africa doesn't get its shit together then they will move it to the States or a European location.
I for one would rather have it in a country like Spain or Italy then a third world country that could use the stadium funds to fix real problems

[plato-ny]

How about hosting it in Greece?

[aek26]

its very sad south africa has people stavring on the streets and could use some money and stupid FIFA lets them host a world cup....

[greek_irishman]

Not really FIFA'S fault, they never forced the South African government to bid for the World Cup.

But I do agree that poverty is a very big problem in South Africa and many other countries.

[molon_lave_2012]

I can personally understand that FIFA wanted to host in an African country for the 1st time, but seriously why can't they host it in a country like Egypt?

I guess almost all of African nations are poor.

[biancoverde]

Not really FIFA'S fault, they never forced the South African government to bid for the World Cup.

But I do agree that poverty is a very big problem in South Africa and many other countries.

It IS FIFA's fault. FIFA are the ones who accepted RSA's bid.


The backup is USA, who can be ready in less than a month if needed. The stadiums are massive, the crowds will be sellouts (there is far, far, far more interest in soccer than there was in 94, and 94 had the best attendances yet from a WC) and theres less damn vuvuzelas. Germany just did it, and theres nothing wrong with sending it right back. They've got it all fresh in their minds. Even sending it to Austria-Switzerland would be a good idea.


No African country is really able to host the WC, Egypt has a modern team, not a modern country - not to mention the HEAT in June is actually quite dangerous, and they really dont have enough development for a long time to be ready not to mention the political/security crap that has to go through... RSA was the best in a group of poor candidates. It's Shit Blatter who forced the idea that Africa has to have a WC (even though they are not ready) and 1000% FIFA's responsibility to pick a suitable candidate for the tournament.



As for poverty in RSA. Sure, it is a poor country, but it has been developing a lot for African standards. I think part of the idea behind FIFA giving them the WC, is that people would benefit from the tournament. Money, visitors, jobs will come into the country. Also, major tournaments can have big effects on tourism in the future, esp as securing a secure image for visitors weary of travelling to Africa. Athens saw significant increases in visitors following the 2004 Olympics I know...

[greek_irishman]

So Shit Blatter said that the 2010 world cup had to be in Africa is that what your saying, what other countries were bidding for the world cup,I'm curious to know, because the way your saying it it's like FIFA forced South Africa to bid for the World cup and the only other nations bidding were African Nations.

I think it was the South African Governments choice to bid for the world cup, and no one forced them, unless you can find me facts that a FIFA representative was holding a gun to the President of South AFrica's head, I believe they are to blame and not FIFA.

CHEERS!!!!

[plato-ny]

From wikipedia (South Africa missed out on WC 2006 by one vote)

Africa was chosen as the host for the 2010 World Cup as part of a new policy to rotate the event between football confederations (which was later abandoned in October 2007). Five African nations placed bids to host the 2010 World Cup:

Egypt
Libya / Tunisia (co-hosting)
Morocco
South Africa

Following the decision of the FIFA Executive Committee not to allow co-hosted tournaments, Tunisia withdrew from the bidding process. The committee also decided not to consider Libya's solo bid as it no longer met all the stipulations laid down in the official List of Requirements.

After one round of voting, the winning bid was announced by FIFA president Sepp Blatter at a media conference on 15 May 2004 in Zürich. South Africa was awarded the rights to host the tournament, defeating Morocco and Egypt.[1]

Voting Results

Country Votes
South Africa 14
Morocco 10
Egypt 0

Tunisia withdrew on 8 May 2004 after joint bidding was not allowed
Libya bid was rejected: bid did not meet the list of requirements and joint bidding was not allowed

[G7Keftetha]

Im sure they will get it done before the time its due, but it was stupid to risk it in such a unstable country. It would have turned alot of people off going there

[greek_irishman]

Thanks for the info, biancoverde you were right, and it would suck if they were to move the world cup because my dad got tickets to go see a couple of matches and he really wants to visit South Africa apparently it's beautiful.

Cheers Guys!!!!

[pao2gre]

You guys are falling the for same crap the media was saying about Greece.

This isnt a World Cup like Germany was etc where there is a methodical approach to construction and there is a plan which is seen through step by step.

This is third world - where labour is cheap and there is unlimited workers. It will be done on time and will lok spectacular because like Greece they will bust their workers asses 6 months before and finish it off and overpay.

[Kaukasios]

i would like a host change.. germany or england, even france could be that..

let's get rid of vuvuzelas

[biancoverde]

So Shit Blatter said that the 2010 world cup had to be in Africa is that what your saying, what other countries were bidding for the world cup,I'm curious to know, because the way your saying it it's like FIFA forced South Africa to bid for the World cup and the only other nations bidding were African Nations.

I think it was the South African Governments choice to bid for the world cup, and no one forced them, unless you can find me facts that a FIFA representative was holding a gun to the President of South AFrica's head, I believe they are to blame and not FIFA.

CHEERS!!!!

Nobody forced RSA to bid. RSA wants the WC but FIFA is the one who agreed to give to it to them and is responsible for picking a good host country. And when Blatter says "only African nations" then the WC will be in Africa

Obviously, RSA wanted the WC. FIFA as the organizer of the tournament is responsible for picking a worthy country. They are the ones who decided that the tournament absolutley MUST partake in Africa, and they decided amongs the 5 different bids. Sepp Blatter restricted the bids to only African nations, none which are promising.

The other bids were Egypt, Morrocoo and Libya/Tunisia joint bid that FIFA did not even allow to vote on - so it was just Morcocco, RSA, and Egypt. In reality RSA won because FIFA and Blatter limited the selection to just African nations, when the whole continent is underdeveloped. Thats 100% FIFA's fault for ruling out a European, N/S American. Asian WC and basically taking a huge risk in choosing a country and continent maybe not yet ready for a major world tournament like this.

[plato-ny]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8151180.stm

S Africa stadium strike 'is over'


Workers have been dancing and singing outside the stadiums

By Jonah Fisher
BBC News, Johannesburg

Workers on South Africa's World Cup stadiums have ended their strike and will resume building work.

The strikers had threatened to wreck the tournament next June unless they received a pay increase of 13%. In the end they accepted 12%.

For the last week the building of the five new World Cup stadiums had come to a halt.

Instead of construction the thousands of workers have been dancing and singing outside the venues.

They had been demanding a 13% increase in their salary.

In the end they got 12% - but the construction companies will be relieved that industrial action which could have lasted months has ended so quickly.

In fact the building of the stadiums is the least of South Africa's World Cup worries.

All the new grounds are on track to be finished months before the first game.

Keeping fans safe, a shortage of hotel beds, and the inadequacy of the country's transport network are of much greater concern.

[Trajkov]

Is there an upset in the making here? Mexico v U.S.A. 0-1 yes that is correct. The Americns go up early on Mexico in Azteca. Looks like the makings of a great game. I still think the Americans will lose 3-1.

[Trajkov]

what a f!@#ing tying goal by Macias of Mexico. Cought Howard napping off the line! Great goal, great placementLooked like about 25 yards out. Would rival any bullet. This livened up the capacity crowd of 105,000. All I have to say is WOW!!!!

[PPFRESH]

interesting game. neri in for mexico with twenty left. us has been hanging on for dear lfe not to eat a big fat goal.

neri in the middle of a fracas as the charlie davies goes down after defending and neri attempts to pick him up off of the ground as though he was feigning injury. funny