Source: KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government

Title: Ndebele: Meeting with Italian government delegation

Remarks by the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Mr Sibusiso Ndebele, at a meeting with the Italian government delegation at the Hilton Hotel, Durban

Under Secretary of State for International Commerce, Mauro Agostini and your delegation
Members of the Executive Council
Mayor of Ethekwini (Durban) Municipality, Your Excellency Councillor Obed Mlaba Members of the provincial and local government
Municipal Manager, Mr Mike Sutcliffe
Distinguished guests

Never in the history of South Africa has a single sporting event so focused the minds of our people as the 2010 Soccer World Cup.

We saw what the victories of the 1995 Rugby World Cup, the 1996 African Cup of Nations, the 2004 Tri-Nations Rugby Tournament and the performance of our swimmers in the Olympic Games in 2004 did for our national pride and for nation building. We continue to witness individual and collective achievements by our sportsmen and women in various parts of the world every weekend.

The 2010 World Cup is much more than that. It is truly an event that has captured the imagination of our people. Having already reached the status of an international host for events such as the Comrades Marathon, the Dusi Canoe Marathon, the A1 Grand Prix and so on, the Soccer World Cup is the culmination of our young nation and province's aspirations to become the home of sport.

The 2010 Soccer World Cup is an event that will bring South Africa and the province of KwaZulu-Natal into the forefront of the world stage with millions of viewers across the globe focused on the unfolding drama that can only be the game of millions.

Honourable Mauro Agostini, the fact that South Africa was selected as the host for the 2010 World Cup was not accidental.

Nor is the fact that the semi finals are to be hosted in KwaZulu-Natal, something that happened by mere chance.

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 the country, in the rural backwaters, in the townships and suburbs display their passion for soccer by being glued to the radio, television or playing the game themselves.

A soccer match between two top sides such as Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs is the stuff that unites strangers across the seas but can also divide families born of the same tree and living in close proximity of each other. In trains, in buses and taxis of our province and country the game is a staple diet and every soccer lover believes himself or herself to be an expert who knows why a penalty should or should not have been awarded. The country comes to a standstill when there is a soccer game in town. That is the passion that has in part led to us being awarded the right to host the 2010 Soccer World Cup.

However, an event of this magnitude cannot be taken lightly. Already the focus of the world is on the various aspects of this massive organisation. This includes the facilities, the accommodation, security of players and spectators, the infrastructure and hosting of various teams.

More critically, the fundamental question of how this event can be harnessed to bring about long term and sustainable socio-economic advantages to the province is one that this government is constantly seized with. As a country we are already spending billions of rands to provide the infrastructure that is necessary for us to host the countries that will participate in the world cup in 2010.

As for ourselves we are building a state of the art stadium right here in this city of Durban at a cost of R2,2 billion in preparation for this spectacular. As you will observe first hand today, the construction work is well underway. This will be a 70 000 seater stadium that will not only host sporting events but will be a multi-purpose centre featuring conference facilities as well as cultural/historical displays. Mr Mike Sutcliffe, the Municipal Manager of eThekwini will give more details as you go on the visit to the site.

Various delegations have visited European nations in the run up to and hosting of the 2006 World Soccer Cup to interact, observe and to learn for our own event. We are aware of the expertise that you as a country gained in organising the Soccer World Cup in 1990. We are also in awe of your achievements as the World Champions not for the first time. We have no doubt that this interaction today and in days to come will assist us in no small measure as we prepare to host this event on behalf of the millions in Africa who we have been given the privilege to represent.

As you will hear during the presentations, the political oversight committee and other structures incorporating other local government structures are in place to govern and guide the process of preparing and hosting the 2010 Soccer World Cup.

This oversight committee includes MEC Mkhize, MEC Rajbansi, MEC Cele, MEC Mabuyakhulu, MEC Thusi as well as the Mayor of eThekwini, Councillor Obed Mlaba.

The technical committee includes the Director-General, Professor Mandla Mchunu and the Heads of Treasury, Transport, Sport, Arts and Culture, Local Government as well as the eThekwini Municipal Manager.

Honourable Mauro Agostini, sport is a powerful agent for promoting social cohesion. It brings people together from widely divergent walks of life and teaches them to appreciate one another for what they are, as human beings. It contributes to community and nation building. We have no doubt that it will serve to unite our young nation in a way that no other event has done since the advent of our democracy in 1994.

We also believe that the event will leave a legacy in this province. We are therefore also engaged in a very serious initiative to revive soccer in the province. KwaZulu-Natal is the alma mater for many soccer greats and it is our ambition to merge the passion for our soccer with true ability. We want to see players of international calibre emerging from our province.

A comprehensive programme has been launched that ranges from development of facilities in disadvantaged areas, to talent searching to supporting soccer clubs.

Let me mention a few 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.

The first Premier's Cup was held in September 2006 whereby a province wide soccer schools league programme was instituted, which every year will culminate in the Premier's Cup Competition.

We, therefore, welcome you in the spirit of sport that bridges the geographical distance between us and we invite you to engage with KwaZulu-Natal to identify areas where we can co-operate.

This could include capacitation programmes, trade and business opportunities, technical co-ordination and most importantly to come to KwaZulu-Natal as the host province for the Italian Team in 2010!

I thank you!

Issued by: Office of the Premier, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
13 March 2007