Bafana damaged SA’s image

CAPE TOWN – The national soccer team’s performance in the African Cup of Nations dented South Africa’s winning image as it prepares to host the 2010 World Cup, President Thabo Mbeki said on Friday.

“I am afraid that our performance … did nothing to advertise our strengths as a winning nation,” the president said in his state-of-the-nation address to a joint sitting of Parliament.The world was watching South Africa closely to judge whether it would be a worthy 2010 World Cup host.”Starting today, the nation must bend every effort to ensure that we meet all the expectations of (international football body) Fifa and the world of soccer, so that we host the best Soccer World Cup ever.”Bafana Bafana lost all three of its Group C matches in the continental cup, failing to score a goal and conceding five.The defeat came amid a dispute arising from a player demand for higher salaries.”As we work together to restore the sport of soccer in our country to full health and prepare a winning national team, we must ensure that we work full steam ahead to get everything else ready for a successful Soccer World Cup,” Mbeki said.This would include stadia, broadcast facilities, high-definition television, transport and hospitality infrastructure, safety and security, and popular support for the game – requiring selfless dedication by local organisers.The 2010 World Cup would boost South Africa’s reconstruction efforts, as well as give impetus to Africa’s renaissance, the president said.”In return for these irreplaceable benefits, we owe it to Fifa and the rest of the soccer world to prepare properly for 2010.”I trust that the domestic world of soccer will respond to this challenge with all necessary seriousness, commitment and patriotism,” he said.- Nampa-Sapadid nothing to advertise our strengths as a winning nation,” the president said in his state-of-the-nation address to a joint sitting of Parliament.The world was watching South Africa closely to judge whether it would be a worthy 2010 World Cup host.”Starting today, the nation must bend every effort to ensure that we meet all the expectations of (international football body) Fifa and the world of soccer, so that we host the best Soccer World Cup ever.”Bafana Bafana lost all three of its Group C matches in the continental cup, failing to score a goal and conceding five.The defeat came amid a dispute arising from a player demand for higher salaries.”As we work together to restore the sport of soccer in our country to full health and prepare a winning national team, we must ensure that we work full steam ahead to get everything else ready for a successful Soccer World Cup,” Mbeki said.This would include stadia, broadcast facilities, high-definition television, transport and hospitality infrastructure, safety and security, and popular support for the game – requiring selfless dedication by local organisers.The 2010 World Cup would boost South Africa’s reconstruction efforts, as well as give impetus to Africa’s renaissance, the president said.”In return for these irreplaceable benefits, we owe it to Fifa and the rest of the soccer world to prepare properly for 2010.”I trust that the domestic world of soccer will respond to this challenge with all necessary seriousness, commitment and patriotism,” he said.- Nampa-Sapa