Address by Premier of KwaZulu-Natal Mr Sibusiso Ndebele during the 2010 Strategic Indaba held at the International Convention Centre, Durban

Programme Director Ms G Gumbi-Masilela
MEC for Finance and Economic Development Dr Z Mkhize
MEC for Sport and Recreation Mr A Rajbansi
Mayor of eThekwini Councillor O Mlaba
2010 FIFA World Cup Local Organising Committee Chairperson Dr Irvin Khoza
Acting Provincial Director-General Dr K Mbanjwa
City Manager Dr Mike Sutcliffe
Ladies and gentlemen

Many of us remember the day, Saturday, 15 May 2004 when FIFA President Sepp Blatter appeared in front of the cameras at the World Trade Centre in Zurich, Switzerland. This followed a secret ballot of the 24-person Executive Committee of world football's governing body. Time seemed to be standing still!

The time it took for Dr Blatter to make the announcement appeared to be longer than usual. When the first letters of South Africa appeared at the top of that now famous envelope, the jubilation of our representatives at the news conference was beyond belief. Back home this was mirrored by the thousands of fans and supporters who had been gathered in various centres to hear the outcome of the secret ballot. Looking at the street celebrations which followed that announcement, one could not help but think South Africa had actually won the world cup itself.

The significance of that announcement, that South Africa would host the FIFA World Cup in 2010, was that we had become the first African nation ever to host the planet's most popular sporting event. We are told that once Africa was chosen as the first to kick-off the continental rotation of the FIFA World Cup, its 52 associations were invited to submit bids. Out of that number we emerged with victory, carrying with us the hopes and millions of Africans on whose behalf we are scheduled to host this event.

On behalf of the people of KwaZulu-Natal we would like again to express our own sincere appreciation to FIFA for the honour granted such a young nation to host so huge an event. Three years before the world's most recognised spectacle kicks off on our soil we would like to declare that we understand the enormity of the load placed on our young shoulders. We have demonstrated thus far that we understand the responsibility of hosting the millions who will visit our country and as a country we are equal to the task.

We have also had the singular honour of hosting matches played by our national team Bafana Bafana most notably during the 4-0 defeat of Chad in the African Nations Qualifier. We would like to say thank you to SAFA for the opportunity to display our commitment to the overall success of football and to test our readiness for 2010. Our readiness is your readiness; our success in hosting these matches is your success.

We would like to extend our gratitude to the Local Organising Committee and FIFA for your vote of confidence in KwaZulu-Natal and our ability to contribute to a successful hosting of the FIFA World Cup in 2010. On 23 November this year the Preliminary Draw for 2010 will take place here in Durban. The eyes of the world will be glued on Durban and KwaZulu-Natal to see who will be playing who in three years time. This is an honour.

In addition, we are honoured that KwaZulu-Natal will host one of two semi finals during 2010. This means that together with Cape Town we will decide which 11 of the 22 players will play in the finals. The road to the final in Berlin in 2006 went through Munich and Dortmund while the Third Place Play-off was staged in Stuttgart. The road to the finals goes through KwaZulu-Natal. The road to Johannesburg goes through Durban!

Based on the figures released by FIFA about Germany 2006, like Germany we can expect millions of visitors during the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. FIFA says this tournament has attracted a record total of 205 nations, all aiming to seal a berth at the showcase tournament from 11 June to 11 July 2010. The interest is historic and unprecedented. It means more than any other host of the Soccer World Cup we will have more eyes watching from inside our country and outside. It is Africa's time; it is South Africa's time. It is KwaZulu-Natal's time. This is our time.

As one German citizen told the BBC and I quote: "Before the World Cup there was not so much patriotism in Germany," said Dortmunder Eva Daubenspeck. "But now it's different. The people are very proud of their country." As another German soccer fan remarked, "The World Cup in Germany has made us even like each other".

Ladies and Gentlemen the FIFA World Cup in 2010 will not be about 90 minutes on the field for the spectators inside the stadium or the billions around the world watching on television. This event is infinitely more than that. In our view 2010 provides us the greatest catalyst for our own economic development programmes. It must change the way in which we look at sport. Sport is not just the act of scoring the most points against your opponents in the fastest time possible.

A sporting event of this magnitude helps refocus a hosting country in a way that very few events ever do. There are only two events I can think of which have grabbed the attention of this country in such a way over the past seventeen years. The first was the release of Nelson Mandela from prison in 1990. The second was the holding of the country's first democratic elections in 1994.

We want to use this opportunity to reclaim our spot as the Home of Soccer. African Wanderers FC was formed in 1906, followed by AmaZulu FC in 1932. This makes these two the oldest clubs in the country. In the history of South African soccer, the contribution of KwaZulu-Natal to the professional leagues of the country, the national squad and international leagues has been matched by only a
few. Players such as Sizwe Motaung, Helman Mkhalele, Sibusiso Zuma, Siyabonga Nomvete and many others have shown the ability of our boys to stand their own in the world. This makes us truly the Home of Soccer in the country.

We also believe that more than any other sport, football has produced more black millionaires since our readmission to FIFA than any other sport in this country. There are numerous examples of this phenomenon, Lucas Radebe, Doctor Khumalo, Philemon Masinga, Derlon Buckley, Aaron Mokoena, Zuma and Nomvete, and many others including those playing for Sundowns FC and other local clubs. As a result of soccer these youngsters have moved from the poverty of the township to a lifestyle of movie stars and celebrities.

The African continent is awash with examples of how youngsters such as Nwanko Kanu, Augustine Okocha, George Weah, and Didier Drogba have been able to use their God-given talent to lift their families out of poverty.

It must therefore not be forgotten that the FIFA World Cup in 2010 will be a soccer event. It therefore follows that if anyone must participate in this event, it must be the soccer players, supporters and administrators. If anyone must be part of the legacy of the World Cup it must be the soccer playing community. If anyone must win in the World Cup, it must be the soccer players and supporters.

We have already launched a comprehensive Programme that ranges from development of facilities in disadvantaged areas, to talent searching to supporting Soccer Clubs. We have started initiatives such as the programme to harness the expertise of soccer veterans, and the talent searching campaign whereby 280 young players between the ages of 16 and 20 have been identified and are being prepared to join the professional football ranks.

A special programme to train 40 goalkeepers has also commenced. All these players are now in the provincial database of talented soccer players. We held the first Premier's Cup in September 2006 kick starting a province-wide soccer schools league programme which every year will culminate in the Premier's Cup Competition.

After the final whistle is blown in Johannesburg on 11 July 2010, the FIFA World Cup's impact will be felt for time to come. This will be especially so if an African country wins the tournament. Remaining behind will be the billions of rand in infrastructure development and facilities upgrades, small business development and enterprise development. In the long term South Africa's image internationally will be so enhanced that millions of visitors will keep coming years after the final. We are also aware that an event such as the World Cup will also increase our own sense of loyalty and patriotism to South Africa. These are opportunities that no government will be able to pass by and which cannot be reduced to money.

In our view the 2010 FIFA World Cup therefore gives us one of those rare opportunities to increase the size and activity of our economy but also to unite our people around a common goal. It is a credit to our unique history, our beautiful geography and our ability to find peace when we were destined to descend into anarchy in no time. For many nations these opportunities only come once in a while. In 13 years of the democratic order, we are fortunate we have so many chances to tell the world about this great future we are forging together. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for many of us. The fact is that when next the tournament returns to Africa, it is highly unlikely that South Africa will be the host.

While it is our chance we must seize the moment. This is why we have gathered today. For the 61 municipalities this is a window of enormous opportunity. Many people will visit the country and will not be able or willing to go to the stadiums. They will be here to see the country and province. This is your chance. This is the part you can influence, by designing aggressive marketing strategies and plans which seek to woo the citizens of the 32 countries which will qualify; the citizens of the 205 countries who have entered the qualifying rounds and the people of the world who watch the game of billions.

Let us tell them why they must go to St Lucia, the Drakensberg, or the South Coast. Let us tell them about our rich heritage which will take them to the Ghandi Settlement and to KwaShembe, let us tell them before they arrive here.

Our cities will no doubt be the most immediate beneficiaries of the World Cup. In a province that is predominantly rural, the challenge may well be how we could use this event to stimulate the development of the rural economy. The question therefore is how we can use our existing institutions such as municipalities, traditional leadership, civil societies and non-governmental organisations to ensure that the benefits are spread to the rural areas. We must also decide what kind of development we want to flow to the rural areas and what kind to the cities.

Legacy in KwaZulu-Natal

KwaZulu-Natal is constructing an iconic stadium which will be the among the best in the world and which can stand its own against the Alliance Stadium in Munich, Wembley in the United Kingdom and many others.

As a province we must achieve the following simple goals:
* hosting a successful 2010 FIFA World Cup
* confirm and enhance our reputation as a leading tourist destination and cultural melting pot
* providing an enabling environment which leaves a lasting legacy

These goals will only be attained if we are able to continue the strides we have made so far as a province in growing our economy. This means continuing our sure march towards an 8% growth and the halving by 2014 of unemployment and poverty. This means we must continue to deal with challenges such as HIV and AIDS, teenage pregnancies and crime of which have the potential to undermine the gains we make leading to 2010.

In short we are called by history to keep our eyes on the ball and keep forging ahead.

We must state that an event of this magnitude risks becoming elusive to millions of our people unless we are able to clearly identify the possible opportunities. We must spell out these opportunities so that people who are interested can start preparing early. The multiple economic activities which centre around the World Cup include translation services, event management, advertising and media, entertainment, security services, photographic services, office space rental, retail, accommodation and medical services to mention a few. Spreading access will mean educating the masses of our people ahead of time about the opportunities provided by this event.

As the province of KwaZulu-Natal our responsibility is to ensure that the security establishment makes this a crime-free event and one which entire families will be able to attend in peace and security. Ours is to ensure that political peace continues to reign in this province and that all the stakeholders appreciate their place in delivering a successful World Cup in KwaZulu-Natal.

I do not see what stands in our way at the moment. KwaZulu-Natal has the climate, the facilities and more importantly, we have a passion for the game of soccer. Weekend in, weekend out our people in every corner of our province, in the rural backwaters, in the townships and suburbs display their unbridled passion for soccer by being glued to the radio, television or playing the game themselves.

In KwaZulu-Natal we have the aptitude. In KwaZulu-Natal we have the altitude. In KwaZulu-Natal we have the attitude.

Therefore, let us work together in unison towards one goal.

Masisukume Sakhe iKwaZulu-Natal.

Thank you