Zimbabwe turmoil adds to South Africa’s World Cup problems

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JOHANNESBURG: Political turmoil in neighbouring Zimbabwe is adding to a long list of problems South Africa faced in its preparation for the 2010 World Cup Finals, FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke said yesterday.
“The situation in Zimbabwe has to be solved quickly. What is happening there is definitely terrible,” Valcke told a media briefing here yesterday.
“It would have been nice for South Africa with all the other challenges they are facing not to have the problem of Zimbabwe on top of it all.”
Valcke said FIFA backed various international initiatives to resolve the political impasse following the contested elections that returned president Robert Mugabe to power last month.
“We add our voice to concerns and we fully support what is being done by all international organisations.”
But Valcke said he was unsure what the effect of possible international sanctions might be on Zimbabwe’s national team, who are involved in 2010 World Cup qualifiers.
“Their national association have done nothing wrong. This would be something we would have to discuss with the United Nations. We do have links with some international bodies but for the time being I can tell you we have made no decision on Zimbabwe.”
Valcke said the list of organisational challenges in South Africa for the 2010 tournament, which kicks off in 700 days from today, remained long.
On Tuesday organisers decided to drop Port Elizabeth as one of the venues for the Confederations Cup, an eight-team test event to be played next June.
The city had promised to complete their new Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium by March but the South Africa 2010 World Cup Organising Committee said this was unlikely.
Asked about his biggest challenge in the next 700 days, Valcke said: “I have a long list of things to do on my desk and all must be done in the end. We have to focus on everything. Nothing is ready yet but all has to be ready for 2010.” – Reuters