With the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup just around the corner, government and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the 2010 FIFA World Cup took the third leg of the 2010 Mass Mobilisation Road Show to the North West province this past weekend.
The 2010 Mass Mobilisation Road Show is targeting non-host city municipalities across the country, and the main purpose of this, as explained by Sports and Recreation Minister Makhenkesi Stofile, is to make sure that people outside the host cities do not feel excluded.
Speaking on the second day of the road show on Sunday at Matlosana Stadium in Klerksdorp, Minister Stofile urged the people of the North West province, as game hosts of both the Confederations Cup and the 2010 World Cup to welcome soccer lovers from around the world with humility. The Royal Bafokeng Stadium, situated in Rustenburg, will play host to both the Confederations Cup and the World Cup. One of the first games of the Confederations Cup, New Zealand vs Spain (14 June, 20h30) will be held at the Royal Bafokeng stadium.
Speaking on the first day of the road show at Mafikeng Stadium in Rustenburg, the North West MEC for Sports, Arts and Culture, Grace Pampiri, called on the people of the North West province to "own up to these events because they are nothing without the support of ordinary South Africans."
"Had it not been for the 2010 World Cup, we would not have had some of the infrastructure that is being rolled out nationwide in preparation for the tournaments. For us, this World Cup is also a vehicle for development," she added.
Some of the notable figures present at the road show included 2010 Ambassadors Mark Fish, Doctor Khumalo, Desiree Ellis, Philemon Masinga and the 2010 mascot, Zakumi. The road show has so far been to two other provinces: the Northern Cape (Galeshewe) and the Eastern Cape (Aliwal North and Queenstown).
Issued by: Sport and Recreation South Africa
25 May 2009
Source: Sport and Recreation South Africa (http://www.srsa.gov.za)
