Date: 09/05/2007

Source: Gauteng Provincial Government

Title: Shilowa: SoccerEx London Forum

Address by Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa at the SoccerEx London Forum

Programme Director
The Minister of Sports, Richard Caborn
CEO of SoccerEx Duncan Revie
Leaders of the football fraternity
Business leaders
Ladies and gentlemen

In six months time you, the decision makers in the world of football, will be converging in Gauteng, the economic heartland of South Africa, for SoccerEx 2007. You will return for two years thereafter to learn, network and do business. SoccerEx in Gauteng is significant in that it will offer you an opportunity to learn about the football market in South African and Africa. Considering that South African will be hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2010, these markets will increasingly becoming relevant to football business in the run up to the World Cup tournament and beyond.

SoccerEx in Gauteng is therefore an ideal opportunity for all you who are involved in the business of football to maximise business opportunities ahead of the World Cup, to learn what is it that South Africa is doing in preparation for the hosting the most successful 2010 soccer spectacle while continuing to be a place for the football industry to network and do business.

For us as a province that will be hosting the opening match, a quarter final and the final match, we understand that the world focus will be firmly on us. We are the home of the FIFA headquarters, the main port of entry into our country and we have three of the 10 stadia being prepared to host World Cup football games. We therefore see SoccerEx as an opportunity for our football administrators and decision makers to be exposed to best practices from around the world. This is also a platform to strength the development of football in our country and continent.

For us, SoccerEx and the World Cup, offer an opportunity to position Gauteng as a globally competitive city region, to promote tourism into the province. When you arrive in Gauteng in November you will be able to witness for yourselves what we mean when we say we regard the 2010 tournament not as an event but an opportunity for long term sustainable development and to build a lasting legacy for our people.

From when you get off your aeroplanes, you will be able to see that our airport is undergoing a major upgrade. This is part of our efforts to build a world-class public transport that has a high speed train, the Gautrain as its core. We are also using this opportunity to more vigorously focus on the provision of social and economic infrastructure, to improve safety on our roads, to reduce crime, to promote tourism, to create employment and reduce levels of poverty among our people.

Our province is beginning to resemble a big construction site as we vigorously prepare for the World Cup. The upgrading of our three match venues namely Loftus Versfeld, Soccer City and Ellis Park has started. In addition to these we are upgrading and rebuilding six other stadia (HM Pitje, George Thabe, Sinaba, Rand, Orlando and Dobsenville) as possible practice venues that comply with FIFA standards.

Our people are passionate about football. They love it and this is the legacy they expect because they will continue to use these facilities long after the World Cup tournament. We are ready to give the world the best World Cup tournament. We have the will and capacity to finish our preparations on time. Remember, it is South Africa's expertise that built the internationally renowned Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai and Hong Kong international airport in China.

Both of these projects were completed and we have no doubt that South Africa will give the world a memorable Soccer World Cup in 2010. Gauteng is ready to make South Africa win with the whole of Africa. As the president has often said: Africa's time has come! Come to Gauteng in November and witness our readiness, our passion and excitement about the game of football.

I thank you.

Issued by: Office of the Premier, Gauteng Provincial Government
9 May 2007