The Premier of the Northern Cape, Ms Hazel Jenkins wishes to express her sincere appreciation to all our people especially the police for ensuring the safety of all our people and tourists during the 2010 World Cup,
the religious community for their prayers and blessings for a successful World Cup, the business sector for offering their services and the thousands of volunteers for working long hours and the many government officials who have ensured that our people could watch the World Cup spectacle from even the remotest areas of our province.
The World Cup the first to be hosted on African soil was indeed an amazing and memorable experience. Africa has delivered a world class event that will permanently be remembered by the scores of men and women who graced our shores. We have showcased our diverse cultures and rich heritage, our song and dance and the scenic beauty of Africa to the rest of the world.
The hosting of this prestigious event has dispelled all the negative perceptions that people held about Africa. It has placed Africa high on the international map and demonstrated our soccer prowess.
The Premier said that all of us must now look forward with hope and optimism to the future. We must from now onwards embrace the same spirit and positive attitude displayed during the World Cup, to rally behind and support all the efforts that are aimed at improving the quality of life of all people. The invaluable lessons that we have learnt from the World Cup is that by working together we can achieve even the most impossible dream.
We have also learnt incredible lessons by hosting Uruguay, a soccer loving nation in the City of Kimberley. As such, the provincial government and Uruguay National Soccer team have signed a memorandum of intent which focussed on sports development, primarily targeting grassroots development. The Uruguayan National Football Association has agreed to share their football expertise with the Northern Cape Province.
The Northern Cape Provincial Government (NCPG) and the Uruguay Football Association as referred to as (AUF) had expressed their mutual desire to pursue the development of football in the Northern Cape Province through a partnership arrangement that will focus on:
Football development programmes focusing on junior/amateur programs for U/15 and U/17 boys and girls Football development through existing programs that the AUF have with other countries Capacity development of coaches, managers and technical officials with the provincial football fraternity through expertise provided by the AUF and its associated partners
Football exchange programmes among the junior/amateur programmes of the AUF, its associated partners and the Northern Cape Province
This must be seen in the context of the lasting legacy that the FIFA World Cup has brought about
Mafu Davids
Cell: 082 316 6000
Source: Office of the Premier, Northern Cape Provincial Government
