By Craig Urquhart, NNN-Buanews
Durban, South Africa : For a few hours this Sunday, this South African city will be centre of the world’s attention as thousands of international delegates, hordes of journalists and hundreds of millions of television viewers witness the 2010 FIFA World Cup preliminary draw for qualification matches.
“It will give viewers all round the world an excellent taste of what lies in store for them in 2010,” said FIFA General Secretary Jerome Valcke, who will conduct the draw.
He said 170 territories had booked the television feed for this event, which is a new FIFA World Cup record and yet more proof of the huge interest in South Africa 2010.
All indications are that Durban is on target with its preparations for the event, despite a labour dispute which has seen construction work at the Moses Mabhida Stadium grind to a halt, reports Southafrica.info.
Speaking at a South African Football Association (SAFA) House briefing last Wednesday, Local Organizing Committee (LOC) Chief Executive Officer Danny Jordaan assured media that the strike would not have an impact on the draw.
Workers from the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) went on strike last week following failed wage negotiations over better salaries and bonuses.
“The preliminary draw is of paramount importance to us as the organizing committee. We have a unique opportunity to demonstrate our ability to organize a world-class event to an expectant local, continental and international community,” said Jordaan.
He said it was South Africa’s first opportunity to host a preliminary draw and that nothing should be spared in the preparations for the event.
Meanwhile, Sibusiso Ndebele, the premier of the province of Kwa-Zulu-Natal, where Durban is situated,: “There is absolutely nothing you can take for granted in terms of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The majority of us present here today will never see the FIFA World Cup again in Africa. This is a once in a life time opportunity, in a literal sense.”
KwaZulu-Natal itself will host 2010 matches and Confederations Cup matches in 2009, at the Moses Mabhida Stadium here.
He said KwaZulu-Natal’s participation in the Soccerex conference in November will be another opportunity to market the province to an international audience. Soccerex is an international business-to-business soccer exhibition to be held in Johannesburg.