Fifa: South Africa 2010 On Track

FIFA has stated that South Africa is further ahead in its preparations for the
2010 World Cup than previous host Germany was at the corresponding stage.

A delegation of FIFA officials including Horst Schmidt, who is to take up a
new post as FIFA’s coordinator for the tournament, are in South Africa this week
to check up on the progress of stadia construction for the 2010 event.

The delegation’s verdict after the visit serves as a significant boost to the
local organisers after concerns expressed by FIFA president Sepp Blatter who
said in September that he needed ‘to fire up the organising committee’.

Irvin Khoza, chairman of the local organising committee said he was happy
with FIFA’s vote of confidence.

‘The schedule will be met as proposed and come the first quarter of next
year, construction must start,’ he stated.